[00:00:01]
OKAY IT'S 6:00, WE WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL .
IT'S TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022.
IF YOU ARE TUNING IN FOR ELECTION RESULTS, YOU HAVE THE WRONG STATION.
[LAUGHTER] SO LET'S START OFF.
WE HAVE INVOCATION. WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME DAN MENDOZA HERE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE READ IN YOUR WORD THAT IT SAYS, LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES, FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD.
AND THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.
WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS DISCUSS HOW TO CREATE UNITY WITHIN THE BORDERS OF OUR CITY, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE MAYOR, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND EVERY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEMBER WITH THE ABILITY TO DISCERN THE CORRECT PATH AND THE GRACE TO LEAD WITH EXCELLENCE.
LET US ALL WALK IN THE PURPOSE AND ASSIGNMENT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND LET EVERY CONVERSATION LEAD US CLOSER TO THE IMAGE THAT YOU'VE DESIGNED FOR US AND THE GREAT CITY OF BEDFORD. IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME, WE PRAY.
AMEN. THIS EVENING WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE CUB SCOUT ZPACK 307 TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES.
COME ON, COME ON. Y'ALL KNOW WHERE THE FLAG IS? RIGHT OVER HERE.
SO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS GROUP BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE'S THREE FUTURE PRESIDENTS IN THIS GROUP.
[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, MR. WELLS. ANYONE SIGN UP FOR OPEN FORUM? YES, SIR. OKAY.
SO, COUNCIL, WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE ITEM.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF IT WOULD BE YOUR DESIRE FOR US TO CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE RIGHT NOW RATHER THAN WAIT TILL THE END OF THE MEETING, BECAUSE SOME OF THAT DISCUSSION MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO SOME OF THE NEAR CONVERSATION HERE.WOULD YOU ALL BE INTERESTED IN THAT? YES. OKAY. COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE, ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE AT 6:04.
WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE SECTION NUMBER.
WE'RE GOING TO, BASED ON, WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE TO DISCUSS AN ITEM RELATED TO, PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072.
THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE.
WE JUST CONVENED AN EXECUTIVE.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL'S PATIENCE.
NEXT UP, LET'S CONTINUE THE MEETING.
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION]
WE HAVE COUNCIL RECOGNITION.SO I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE DAIS, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, CHERYL TAYLOR.
[00:05:09]
THIS EVENING, WE ARE CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH MICHAEL GREEN.MIKE GREEN BEGAN HIS SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD IN OCTOBER OF 1997 AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO UTILITY CREW LEADER WITHIN HIS FIRST TWO YEARS.
IN HIS 25 YEARS WITH THE CITY, HE'S DONE IT ALL, FROM WATER AND WASTEWATER REPAIR TO COMPLETING BACKFLOW INSPECTIONS, WATER SAMPLING, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE WATER BILLING DEPARTMENT. HE'S A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND FATHER TO THREE DAUGHTERS AND SEVERAL GRANDCHILDREN.
IN HIS SPARE TIME, HE LIKES TO WORK OUT AND PLAY BASKETBALL.
HE'S RECENTLY RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE.
HE CAN ALWAYS BE COUNTED ON TO FIND THOSE HARD TO LOCATE WATER METERS.
MIKE IS A GREAT MENTOR TO HIS FELLOW PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.
HE ALWAYS HAS A BIG SMILE AND A KIND WORD FOR EVERYONE HE COMES IN CONTACT WITH.
MIKE RECEIVES RECOGNITION AND PRAISE FROM CITIZENS QUITE OFTEN FOR BEING SO COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL.
MIKE'S FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB IS WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND DOING SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHAEL GREEN ON 25 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
[APPLAUSE] I STILL THINK THAT'S CRAZY.
25 YEARS. HOW OLD ARE YOU, DAN? ARE YOU 25? ALL RIGHT.
I APOLOGIZE. WE'RE SKIPPING A LITTLE BIT, BUT LET'S GO TO ITEMS FOR CONSENT.
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]
I'LL GIVE YOU JIMMY STATHATOS.THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL ITEMS FOR TONIGHT.
AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO CERTIFY THE CHAPTER 59 ASSET FORFEITURE REPORT AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE 59.06 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURES.
THIS ITEM IS TO BASICALLY TO REFLECT $22,346 IN REVENUE AND $549.60 IN INTEREST EARNED AND NO EXPENDITURES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 22 REPORTING PERIOD.
AND THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHAPTER 59 ASSET FORFEITURE REPORT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO ANNUALLY.
WE HAD $4,140 IN REVENUE THROUGH EQUITABLE SHARING AND $119.05 IN INTEREST EARNED, AND THERE WERE NOT ANY EXPENDITURES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPROVE THE FISCAL 22-23 PAYMENT FOR THE NORTHEAST TRANSPORTATION SERVICES URBAN DISTRICT.
THIS IS, AGAIN, AN ANNUAL ACTION, IF YOU WILL, AND IT'S TO PROVIDE ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. AND AS MENTIONED, THE PORTION FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE $74,895.
THE NEXT ITEM IS TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT DEALING WITH ARBITRAGE.
IT'S A RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNATE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC TO PERFORM OUR ANNUAL ARBITRAGE REBATE COMPLIANCE AS REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND TO COVER THE CITY'S OUTSTANDING DEBT.
[00:10:05]
ARBITRAGE MUST BE CALCULATED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AND ON TAX EXEMPT BONDS EVERY FIFTH BOND YEAR.AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY THAT DOES THIS REPORT FOR US EACH YEAR.
THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BEDFORD AUTHORIZING OR APPROVING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT APPROPRIATION PLAN AND RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATING EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 22 CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND BUDGET FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A WORKFORCE TELESTAFF SERVICE WITH KRONOS INCORPORATED, WHO DOES BUSINESS AS A UKG COMPANY THROUGH THE OMNIA PUBLIC SECTOR COOPERATIVE.
THIS, THE CORONAVIRUS FUNDS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ARE FUNDS THAT WERE PASSED DOWN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR CITIES TO USE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE THIS, USE THIS SERVICE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND IT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,600.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ALSO AN ARPA ITEM, AND IT'S TO AUTHORIZE THE FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A REPLACEMENT MOVABLE PARTITION WALL FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OPERATIONS AND COMMAND AREAS.
THE AMOUNT IS $23,920 AND IT COVERS THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE REPLACEMENT MOVABLE WALL.
THE NEXT AND LAST ITEM IS ALSO FOR ARPA EXPENDITURES, AND IT IS TO APPROVE ARPA FUNDS FOR VARIOUS POLICE DEPARTMENT PROJECTS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS BRIEFLY.
FIRST ONE IS THE FUMING CHAMBER FOR THE CRIME SCENE UNIT.
THE NEXT ITEM IS UNIFORMS FOR THE BICYCLE UNIT, $11,048 AND THEN $2,197 FOR BODY WORN CAMERA MOUNTS AND THEN $42,993 FOR OFFICE FURNITURE.
AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS FOR $4,140.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE CONSENT ITEMS, UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY. THANK YOU, JIM. COUNCIL, WE HAVE QUESTIONS.
YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, JIMMY, I JUST WANTED CLARITY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO SPEND FROM THE ARPA FUNDS, BECAUSE I THINK IN THAT, THE PACKET YOU HAD THE 66,047, BUT IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 115 IF WE'RE DOING ITEM SIX AND SEVEN TOGETHER WITH ITEM EIGHT.
RIGHT? I BELIEVE SO. I'M LOOKING.
SO THE TELESTAFF WAS APPROVED PRIOR, WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THAT CHART.
I JUST NEEDED CLARITY OF WHAT WE WERE APPROVING FOR THIS MEETING.
YES. THANK YOU. CARYN, YOU'RE RIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW. I WAS LIKE, I'D LIKE TO CALL A FRIEND.
MAYBE WE COULD GET CARYN TO SIT IN THIS CHAIR? I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? OKAY. WHAT IS Y'ALL'S PLEASURE? I SEE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM MAYOR PRO TEM SABOL.
OKAY, THAT IS UNANIMOUS WITH EVERYONE HERE PRESENT.
THANK YOU STAFF. APPRECIATE THAT.
PERSONS TO BE HEARD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STACY HERRON.
[PERSONS TO BE HEARD]
I KNOW YOU HAVE SOMEPLACE ELSE YOU NEED TO BE, SO PLEASE COME ON DOWN.GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL .
THIS IS YOUR 31 FOR ME, SO I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT EXPERIENCE THERE.
REALLY? I'M COMING TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER OR LACK OF.
NOW, YOU MAY SEE, YOU MAY SAY, WELL, WHY ARE YOU HERE TALKING ABOUT A SENIOR CENTER? WELL, I JUST TURNED 60 MYSELF, SO EVENTUALLY I'LL BE USING THAT CENTER WHEN I RETIRE FROM HEB IN FOUR YEARS.
SO I FEEL THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
THE SENIOR CENTER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.
[00:15:09]
AS PART OF THEIR FIELD TRIP.I ATTENDED A MEETING OF A TEACHER ORGANIZATION THE OTHER DAY AND IT WAS AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
I WALKED IN AND I WAS IN DISMAY.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
WHERE WAS THE SCHOOL THAT I KNEW OF? WHERE WAS THE MUSEUM, THE HISTORICAL PART? WHERE WAS IT? IT WAS ALL BOXED UP.
BUT INSTEAD, YOU GUYS HAVE STUCK THE SENIORS THERE.
AND THAT, IN THAT BUILDING, THERE'S GOT BOXES ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BUYING THE YMCA ON CENTRAL.
NOW, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THE SENIORS THERE, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
DON'T JUST PUSH THEM IN THERE AND SAY WE'VE GIVEN YOU A BUILDING.
THERE'S A NICE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET THAT USED TO BE THE LIBRARY.
THAT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC SENIOR CENTER.
THEY HAVE DANCES, THEY HAVE CLASSES.
THEY NEED A KILT. THEY NEED ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THEY ENJOY.
OKAY. THAT WOULD BE PERFECT. SENIOR CENTER RIGHT OUT OF THE FRONT WITH BEDFORD COMMONS OVER HERE.
THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
MY POINT AND MY MISSION TONIGHT.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET YOUR SENIORS.
DO NOT THROW THEM IN A BUILDING AND SAY, YES, [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU A PLACE.
MOST OF THEM CANNOT AFFORD THIS.
AS A RETIRED TEACHER IN FOUR YEARS, I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
NOW, MY LAST POINT, THERE ARE A LOT OF SENIORS IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
WHATEVER YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO WANT TO PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS, WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING.
AND IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE A NICE PLACE FOR THE SENIORS TO HAVE THEIR EVENTS, THE SENIORS AREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
NOW, I'VE LIVED IN BEDFORD SINCE 1979, EXCEPT FOR THE 25 YEARS THAT I WAS MARRIED.
I LIVED IN HURST. I HAVE BEEN BACK HERE.
SORRY. BUT YOU GOT BACK AS FAST YOU COULD.
IT'S EXACTLY. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2014.
I LOVE BEDFORD. THIS IS MY HOME.
I'M A GRADUATE OF TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL, AND SO THIS IS WHERE I WANT.
THAT, WE WILL HOLD AGAINST YOU, THOUGH.
WELL, MY DAUGHTER WENT TO BELL, SO.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE AND ENOUGH INFORMATION.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SENIORS.
AND DO NOT PLEASE, DO NOT PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE ON WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE A SENIOR CENTER.
ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT SENIOR CENTER, WHAT DO WE NEED A SENIOR CENTER FOR? YOU GUYS DON'T REALIZE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SENIORS ONE DAY TOO.
SOME DAY. SOME DAY WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE SENIORS.
I JUST TURNED 60 IN SOME PLACES I AM CONSIDERED A SENIOR CITIZEN.
SO I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET YOUR SENIORS.
I STARTED GETTING MY AARP PACKET AT 50.
EXACTLY. AND LET ME TELL YOU ONE MORE THING.
SENIORS GET TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, NOT JUST IN CITIES, IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
I'M EXPERIENCING THAT WITH MY MOM RIGHT NOW.
THE OLDER YOU GET, THE LESS THEY WANT TO DEAL WITH YOU.
AND I DON'T WANT THE CITY OF BEDFORD TO BE KNOWN FOR THAT.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE QUICK RESPONSE.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR THIS COUNCIL.
WE AGREE. AND WE ARE UNANIMOUS THAT WE WANT BETTER FOR OUR SENIORS.
AND DON'T THROW THEM IN A PLACE THAT'S NOT RENOVATED.
WE'RE VERY BLESSED. WE HAVE A UNITED FRONT HERE THAT WE WANT TO DO BETTER THINGS FOR OUR SENIORS.
I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU TO IT. YOU DO THAT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, STACY. [APPLAUSE] OKAY.
[00:20:01]
AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN, STACY, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE.OKAY, SO LET'S. WON'T WE WELCOME BECKY FARRELL.
HOW ARE YOU? I'M DOING WELL, THANK YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. MY NAME IS BECKY FARRELL.
MY HUSBAND, JAY AND I HAVE BEEN BEDFORD RESIDENTS FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO APPEAL TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD TO RESTORE THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD THAT WAS DISSOLVED IN 2014 AND TO REESTABLISH A FACILITY DEDICATED TO AND SUITABLE FOR SENIOR PROGRAMING IN BEDFORD, THE FORMER SENIOR CENTER HAVING BEEN TORN DOWN IN 2020 TO MAKE ROOM FOR BIGGER AND BETTER.
SO EVERYTHING I OFFER HERE COMES THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE.
IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS OR THROUGH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.
AND I HAVE RECEIVED SO MUCH HELP FROM CITY STAFF.
THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF NOT FOR JUST SO, SO MANY PEOPLE.
DEMOGRAPHICS SUPPORT THE NEED FOR A SENIOR CENTER.
POPULATION BY AGE NUMBERS AS OF 9-14 OF THIS YEAR SHOW 65 TO 85 GROUP TO BE AN ESTIMATED 19% OF TOTAL POPULATION. THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT THIS AGE GROUP IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S PROJECTED TO GROW BY 2026, 5.2%.
BY 2026, THIS GROUP IS PROJECTED TO DECREASE, 11.2%.
AND THIS DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
65 TO 85 REPRESENT 35% OF OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING.
BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE 55 TO 64 AGE GROUP AS WELL.
LIKE STACY SAID, THESE PEOPLE ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF ENTERING THE CONVERSATION.
55 MEANS THE SENIOR MENU AT IHOP AND DENNY'S.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. LET ME WRITE THIS DOWN.
[LAUGHTER] FOLKS, I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOU THERE.
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS COMING, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
A 2019 PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL PROJECTED THAT THE 55 AND OVER AGE GROUPS WOULD REPRESENT 40% OF BEDFORD'S POPULATION BY 2023.
COMBINING THESE GROUPS REPRESENT 58% OF OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING.
AND I POSTPONED COMING FORWARD UNTIL AFTER THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING ON OCTOBER THE 25TH.
IN HOPES THAT COUNCIL WOULD ALREADY HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE NEED TO CORRECT THE CITY'S DECISION NOT TO PROVIDE FOR A DEDICATED SENIOR CENTER, AS ORIGINALLY OUTLINED AS PART OF THE $70 MILLION BOND PACKAGE PASSED BY VOTERS IN 2017.
THE 8,000 SQUARE FOOT SENIOR CENTER PROPOSED IN 2018 CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS IS SHOWN TODAY AS A SENIOR LOUNGE. I KNOW THAT YOU CAN SEE IT OVER THERE.
AND SOME MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS. NOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE LOUNGE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN INTO THE CENTER, BUT I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT IT'S AMPLE TO USE AS A NICE SITTING ROOM FOR READING AND LAPTOP USE.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS WE'VE LISTENED TO THIS CONVERSATION, THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXCUSES OFFERED UP BY THE CITY OF BEDFORD. I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH THEM QUICKLY.
A SENIOR CENTER IS A QUALITY OF LIFE FACTOR THAT DOESN'T GENERATE MUCH REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
[00:25:05]
AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT ONE IN JUST A MOMENT.I AGREE THAT THEY GOT THE SHAFT.
SENIORS DREW THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.
NOW I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO HEAR THAT THERE IS A UNIFIED FRONT AND A UNIFIED PURPOSE IN ADDRESSING THE SENIOR POPULATION.
BUT I STILL THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
LET'S GO BACK TO THAT QUALITY OF LIFE FACTOR THAT DOESN'T GENERATE MUCH REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
AND OF COURSE, THE SENIOR CENTER IS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
THAT'S WHY OUR NEIGHBORS IN GRAPEVINE AND NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, EULESS, HURST, IRVING, KELLER, COLLEYVILLE, SOUTHLAKE, FLOWER MOUND, LEWISVILLE AND WATAUGA, JUST TO NAME A FEW, UNDERSTAND THAT A SENIOR CENTER IS IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
PICKLEBALL, DISC GOLF, BASKETBALL COURTS, BEAUTIFUL PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND WALKING TRAILS.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR DEDICATED SPACES FOR THE SENIOR POPULATION.
AND MOVING ON TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING, MAYOR BOYTER, I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE SENIOR CENTER. COUNCILMAN STEVES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD THE IDEA AND NEED FOR A SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD.
DURING YOUR SUMMARY AT THE END OF THE MEETING, MAYOR, YOU EXPRESSED THAT YOU HAD A SENSE OF LUKEWARM RESPONSE TO A NEW SENIOR CENTER. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY GENEROUS BECAUSE FROM WHERE I WAS SITTING, THAT WAS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE THAT I HAVE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT I'LL SAY THIS, BECKY, WE ARE UNANIMOUS TODAY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, LET'S LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
YES, MA'AM. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THERE IS MORE EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST IN ARTWORK FOR A WATER TOWER THAN THERE WAS IN THE FACT THAT BEDFORD SENIOR CENTER TORN DOWN IN 2020, IT'S NOW LAID OUT AS A SENIOR LOUNGE AND MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS TUCKED INSIDE OF AN 83,000 SQUARE FEET MULTI GENERATIONAL RECREATION CENTER.
BECAUSE CITY STAFF GETS TO SHARE THEIR OFFICE WORKSPACE WITH A BILLIARDS ROOM.
YEAH, MAYBE THAT'S AN EMPLOYEE PERK.
I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] AND THESE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT CAME FROM THIS MEETING, REGARDING A SENIOR CENTER. YEAH. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REVISIT THIS.
WOULD PREFER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
SUPPOSE THEY LIKE IT OVER THERE.
THIS NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED SENSIBLY.
IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WOULD GO.
NOW ALL OF THAT IS REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK.
AND LET'S HAVE SOME FUN WITH THIS.
AND LET'S APPLY THIS LOGIC TO THE PLANNED PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER HERE.
WHY NOT WAIT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE NEW REC CENTER OPENS? SO, SEE, THE NEW CENTER IS SHOWN TO BE 83,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
YOU LOOK AT THE FLOOR PLAN IN THAT LARGE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, THERE'S SEATING FOR UP TO 260, ALREADY MORE THAN THE PROPOSED 206.
IT'S AUDIO VIDEO EQUIPPED FOR A PLEASING SIGHT AND SOUND EXPERIENCE.
CATERING KITCHEN FOR CONCESSIONS.
MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS FOR STAGING.
[00:30:01]
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PERFORMERS.AND THE SENIOR LOUNGE, I THINK, WOULD BE REAL GOOD FOR USE AS A GREEN ROOM.
YOU HAVE TWO OUTDOOR STAGES, WHICH WILL BE FINE FOR MUSIC UNDER THE STARS.
NOW, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, PARTICIPANTS WILL NEED A YMCA MEMBERSHIP.
I'M THINKING, HOW CAN THIS NOT WORK? SUPPOSE THEY LIKE IT OVER THERE.
IT COULD SAVE THE CITY MILLIONS.
NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED SENSIBLY.
IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WOULD GO.
OK. WHAT STARTED AS A FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS NOW APPROVED BY THE CITY AT AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 10 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT STILL MEANS WE'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY FOR OPERATING EXPENSES, BUT IT SOUNDS A LITTLE FAMILIAR. THE ADDITIONAL FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IS TO COME FROM GENERATIONS PARK SAVINGS, MOTEL AND HOTEL TAX REVENUE, AMERICAN RESCUE PLANS, GENERAL FUND MONIES.
THIS FISCAL CREATIVITY COULD JUST AS EASILY BE APPLIED TO A NEW SENIOR CENTER.
FINALLY, A PLANNED SENIOR CENTER NEEDS TO GO TO THE VOTERS.
VOTER APPROVAL WAS GIVEN ON NOVEMBER THE 7TH, 2017.
AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF BEDFORD HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET SO FAR AWAY FROM THEIR ORIGINAL PLANS AND PROMISES WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL.
REQUIRING MEMBERSHIP IN THE YMCA IN ORDER TO USE A CITY OWNED RECREATION CENTER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN VOTER APPROVAL. AND BEFORE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER GETS ANOTHER FOUR AND A HALF MILLION, THAT SHOULD GO TO THE VOTERS AS WELL.
ANYBODY WITH THE BASIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS KNOWS THAT A MULTI PURPOSE MENTALITY WILL NOT WORK. THERE ARE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED IF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE TO FULLY BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE.
THE SAME IS TRUE OF SENIOR PROGRAMING.
THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
SENSORY MOBILITY AND COGNITIVE DIFFERENCES FOR THIS AGE GROUP MUST BE RECOGNIZED IN PLANNING AND DESIGN IF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE TO FULLY BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE, AGAIN, A MULTIPURPOSE ONE SIZE FITS ALL MENTALITY SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK.
WHY IS A NEW SENIOR CENTER BEEN SCRATCHED FROM BOND PACKAGE FUNDING? AND A NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HAS NOT ONLY SURVIVED, BUT EXPANDED? THE ONLY ANSWER I CAN FIND IS COUNCIL SUPPORT.
AND I'M LOOKING FOR YOU GUYS TO PROVE ME WRONG.
THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN BEDFORD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE, WITH CREATIVITY AND WITH VISION THAT ARE MAKING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT TIME TO START THE CONVERSATION.
IT'S TIME TO FIX WHAT'S BROKEN.
I'M ASKING THE CITY OF BEDFORD TO MOVE ON FROM APOLOGIES AND EXCUSES.
I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ACTION TO GIVE BEDFORD SENIORS A VOICE ON THIS COUNCIL AND RETURN TO BEDFORD SENIORS WHAT NUMEROUS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES HAVE ALREADY SEEN FIT TO PROVIDE THEIR CITIZENS, A SENIOR CENTER DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS MEMBERS.
AND I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
[APPLAUSE] SO, BECKY, I DO WANT TO SAY THIS.
WE ARE, WE ARE SAYING THE SAME THINGS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DEDICATED FACILITY JUST FOR SENIORS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FACILITY THAT IS NOT SHARED WITH OTHERS.
WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WE WANT TO REVISIT THESE BOARDS AND SEE TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD. I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND I'M GLAD WE ARE I CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST.
[00:35:01]
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME EXCUSES AND THE WORK IN PROGRESS.BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS FOR LONG ENOUGH.
[APPLAUSE] I HOPE YOU'LL APPRECIATE HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING.
OKAY, LET'S DO THE GODFATHER, SAL CARUSO.
I HAVEN'T SAID THAT IN A WHILE. [LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL, JIMMY STATHATOS, CITY MANAGER.
I'LL EVEN SAY HELLO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YEAH. [LAUGHTER] BEFORE I GET STARTED ON THAT, I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN COGAN FOR RECOGNIZING SOUTH BEDFORD . IT IS PART OF THE CITY.
AND ALSO FOR COUNCILWOMAN DAWKINS, WHO ACTUALLY LIVES IN THE SOUTH.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS COUNCIL AND THIS MAYOR WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH SOME KIND OF PROGRAM.
SO I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER WITH THAT, WITH THAT, AND CITY MANAGER, THAT'D BE A GREAT THING.
AND WELL DONE ON THE TENANT ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMISSION.
AND I WAS AT THAT MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE STRATEGY MEETING.
AND I HAVE TO CONCUR, AND I'VE TOLD JIMMY SEVERAL TIMES, BEST SENIOR MANAGER, CITY MANAGER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE OVER 30 YEARS. AND YOU ARE THE BEST MAYOR.
I BELIEVE THAT, AND I'VE SEEN JUST THE WORK ALONE.
SO HE HIT THE GROUND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE CAPACITY OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
AND AND WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT.
AND YOU MENTIONED THIS NEW CITY HALL, NEW ANIMAL SHELTER AND NEW FIRE/TRAINING CENTER.
ALL NEEDS. AND I 100% AGREE WITH THAT.
AND THE COUNCIL PRETTY MUCH AGREED WITH EVERYTHING WITH YOU.
AND LIKE STACY WAS SAYING, THERE WAS A LUKEWARM RESPONSE ON THE SENIOR CENTER.
AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THAT EVERYONE'S IN AGREEMENT.
YEAH. AND I'LL SAY THIS TOO, REMEMBER, IT'S A LIVE CONVERSATION.
AND SO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE HEARING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO IT.
GREAT. WE WERE UNANIMOUS THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE STRATEGIC VISION.
WILL IT BE A DEDICATED STANDALONE BUILDING? IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THAT.
GOOD. BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE DISMAYED AND DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M DOWNPLAYING THAT BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION IS A LIVE, FLUID CONVERSATION.
BUT I KNOW TODAY WE'VE GOT A UNANIMOUS COUNCIL.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD. SO JUST AS STACY WAS SAYING AND THAT THE SENIOR CENTER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED AT THE PARK AND IT WASN'T, AND SO NO VOTER APPROVAL NEEDED NOW, AT ALL, BECAUSE IT WAS PART, IT WAS PROMISED AND THE PROMISE WASN'T KEPT.
AND YOU FOLKS ARE PLAYING CATCH UP, WHICH THEN WE THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO, SINCE I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THAT TOO MUCH EITHER.
THERE'S OVER 2200 MEMBERS THERE AND QUITE A FEW BEDFORD FOLKS.
[00:40:02]
I'LL TELL YOU, YOU WANT ME TO GIVE YOU A FUN FACT WHILE YOU'RE HITTING ON THAT? SURE. SO STAFF WENT OUT AND DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH.THE SENIOR CENTER IN HURST IS 27,500 SQUARE FOOT.
THE SENIOR CENTER IN EULESS IS 22,240.
COLLEYVILLE HAS GOT A 12,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT THEY'RE PUTTING $4.6 MILLION INTO.
12,000. SO CLEARLY WE ARE BEHIND.
SO AGAIN, SOUTHLAKE, GRAPEVINE, THEY WERE THE CITIES WERE ALL TAKEN CARE OF.
OR SAID FLOWER MOUND, JIMMY IN AUGUST 2020 IN THE FLOWER MOUND LEADER YOU STATED ONE OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS A CONSTRUCTION OF A SENIOR CENTER. SO CAN I ASK YOU, IS THAT A STANDALONE BUILDING OR? YES, SIR, IT IS A STANDALONE BUILDING.
I WON'T GO INTO MY OTHER QUESTION, BUT THAT'S GOOD.
WE JUST HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP US GET THAT NEW BUILDING DONE.
SO I'M GOING TO CUT SOME OF THAT STUFF OUT.
NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO TOO MUCH.
GOOD NEWS. WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU, GODFATHER.
ALL RIGHT. SO IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A, TO YOU.
MY RESPONSE IS SOMEONE ON FACEBOOK WHO THOUGHT WE DIDN'T NEED A SENIOR CENTER.
AND I HOPE THIS RESONATES WITH YOU, AND I THINK IT ALREADY HAS.
SENIORS NEED A CENTER THAT PROVIDES THEM A SENSE OF PURPOSE, A SENSE OF FRIENDSHIP AND COMMUNITY.
A CENTER THAT PROVIDES ROOMS FOR CERAMICS, BINGO DANCES, CARD GAMES, POOL TABLES, ETC.
SOME SENIORS HAVE FAMILY NEARBY.
SOME DON'T. SOME SENIORS ARE IN OTHER STATES.
AND SOME SENIORS ARE SELF SUFFICIENT.
BUT SOME NEED A PLACE TO GO TO.
MANY SENIORS ARE LONELY AND NOT IN THE BEST OF HEALTH.
THEY NEED HUMAN INTERACTION, A CONVERSATION.
A CENTER FILLS A VOID FOR THEM.
WHY CAN'T BEDFORD? AND WE'RE ALREADY TAKING CARE OF THAT, I THINK.
I BELIEVE IT'S UP TO YOU AS ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO RIGHT A WRONG.
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. I HAD MORE SO.
THANK YOU. WE'LL KEEP IT THERE.
I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. I'M GOING TO GET PERSONAL HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'M AN ONLY CHILD AND MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO.
YES, SIR. JUST AS THE PANDEMIC WAS STARTING.
WE TORE DOWN THE OLD SENIOR CENTER.
PEOPLE. PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING.
AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY, WE TRIED TO FIND SOME PLACE TO GET SENIORS BACK TOGETHER.
AND THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
WE ALL KNOW IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO USE IT FOR THIS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT BUILDING IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO GET BACK TOGETHER AND SOCIALIZE, WE TOOK IT.
I'M SORRY IT'S NOT A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.
I'M SORRY IT'S NOT A PERFECT FACILITY.
I HAVE PEOPLE TALK TO ME ALL THE TIME THAT THEY SEEM TO BE.
BUT THE REALITY IS I GO DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT HELPS ME.
IT HELPS ME BE AROUND PEOPLE THAT REMIND ME OF MY MOTHER.
IT HELPS ME KNOW WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
I AM 100% DEDICATED THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS WRONG.
[00:45:10]
WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.WE'RE GOING TO. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
I CAN'T FIX WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS IN THIS CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THESE PROBLEMS OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN YOUR LEADERSHIP AND IN THE CITY COUNCIL DOING THAT.
SO, AND I THINK SENIORS WILL BE PATIENT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE OBS IS NOT THE END, IN A SENSE.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEW BEGINNING IN A NEW BUILDING.
AND WE HAVE OVER 8000 SENIORS.
ALL THE FOLKS THAT WANT TO GO AND VISIT AND BE A PART OF THAT.
WE'LL GET INTO THE FINANCIAL PART LATER, BUT THE FINANCIAL PART AGAIN.
I'M SORRY. THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
YEAH. WE HAVE A CFO WHO IS UNBELIEVABLE.
WE HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE CITY MANAGER.
YES. WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THE MONEY OUT.
GOOD. WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD FINANCIALLY.
WE HAVE MORE STABILITY THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC TIME TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRESS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.
YES, SIR. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A PART OF IT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, GODFATHER.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD EVENING.
I'M ULANA RATLEY, AND I LIVE AT 3108 MISTY COURT HERE IN BEDFORD.
AND I MOVED HERE BACK IN 1982 WHEN I WAS ONLY 33 YEARS OLD.
SO AS YOU SEE, I'M NOW A SENIOR CITIZEN, EVEN THOUGH I WAS YOUNG BACK THEN WHEN I MOVED HERE.
AND IN THIRD GRADE WE ALWAYS TAUGHT THE COMMUNITY UNIT.
I KNOW STACY REFERRED TO THAT, AND SHE'S ONE OF MY FRIENDS.
AND OUR THIRD GRADERS CAME AND VISITED THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL FOR OUR ANNUAL FIELD TRIP.
AND I WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BEDFORD HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
SO I LOVE THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
I WOULD DRESS IN COSTUME, I'D WEAR A WHITE BLOUSE AND A LONG SKIRT.
AND SO WE PACKED EVERYTHING UP.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
WELL, MEANWHILE, IN 2010, I ALSO, SINCE I RETIRED, I JOINED THE BEDFORD SENIOR CENTER AND I ATTENDED THE ART MIXED MEDIA CLASSES AND THE CERAMIC CLASSES, ALSO SOME OF THE INFORMATIONAL CLASSES THEY GAVE TO US, THE LUNCHEONS, THE DINNERS I PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND I REALLY ENJOYED BEING PART OF THE SENIOR CENTER.
THEY'RE NOT THERE ANYMORE. THERE'S NOT THAT MANY OF US IN THE MIXED MEDIA CLASS.
[00:50:02]
THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.YOU ALL CAME TO THE OLD, NOT THE OLD.
YOU ALL CAME TO THE BEDFORD SENIOR CENTER AND YOU ALL TOLD US THAT THE BEDFORD SENIOR CENTER WAS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE A MULTI GENERATIONAL FACILITY BEING BUILT AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PLACE IN THE NEW FACILITY WITH A SENIOR LOUNGE, A DEDICATED SPACE FOR SENIORS TO MOVE IN MORE THAN ONE WING, MAYBE A PARTY ROOM, FOUR ROOMS WHERE WE CAN MEET AND ACTIVE ADULT CLASSES.
AND THEN THE CITY WOULD BE, I MEAN, THEN THE OLD CENTER WOULD BE DEMOLISHED.
BUT MOST OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS THERE DID NOT WANT THE OLD SENIOR CENTER TO BE DEMOLISHED.
IT WAS ONE OF THE NEWER BUILDINGS AT THE BEDFORD BOYS RANCH.
IT WAS BUILT IN 1976 WHERE THE OTHER BUILDINGS HAD BEEN BUILT IN THE FORTIES, AND SO THEY REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE SENIOR CENTER, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE.
AND THEN WE WOULD BE MOVING INTO THE NEW FACILITY.
BUT ON FRIDAY THE 13TH, MARCH.
DUE TO COVID, THE BEDFORD SENIOR CENTER CLOSED FOR GOOD.
THAT WAS OUR LAST DAY OF CLASS.
BUT THEN IN 2021, AFTER THE COVID SCARE HAD KIND OF DIED DOWN, THEN THE NEWS WE MOVED TO THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE BEEN MEETING EVER SINCE.
AND SO, LIKE I SAID, I LOVE THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
IT HAS A DEAR PLACE IN MY HEART, BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR A SENIOR CENTER.
AND I'M GLAD YOU ALL FINALLY REALIZED THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE.
THERE'S ONLY TWO HANDICAPPED PARKING PLACES THERE.
THERE'S NO RAMPS, THERE'S NO HANDRAILS.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ADA IN 1915, RIGHT? 1915. TRUE.
AND, LIKE I SAID, I MEET WITH THE ART MIXED MEDIA CLASS THERE.
THERE'S ALSO THE CERAMICS CLASS THERE.
THERE'S NO SINK. YOU KNOW, YOU NEED WATER WHEN YOU HAVE ART, WHEN YOU HAVE CERAMICS.
AND I THINK BARBARA WANTED TO HAVE A SINK PUT IN THE ROOM, BUT THAT WOULD COMPROMISE OUR FLOORS.
THE HISTORIC ASPECT OF THE SCHOOL.
WE DON'T WANT OUR SCHOOL COMPROMISED.
WE WANT TO PRESERVE ITS BEAUTY.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL WITH THE CEILINGS, THE FLOORS, THE HISTORY.
I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE USED AS A MUSEUM AND A VISITOR CENTER FOR A HERITAGE PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE CERAMICS CLASS, ACTUALLY, I KNOW IF WE EVEN IF WE GET TO MOVE TO THE NEW FACILITY OR WE GET A NEW BUILDING, IT WILL BE OVER A YEAR OR SO BEFORE WE CAN EVEN MOVE THERE.
AND THE CERAMICS CLASS NEEDS A KILN BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO MUCH TROUBLE FOR BARBARA TO HAVE TO LUG ALL HER GREEN WEAR AND HER BISQUEWARE TO FLOWER MOUND AND FIRE IT AND THEN LUG IT BACK. IT'S HEAVY AND IT'S FRAGILE.
YOU MIGHT DROP IT AND BREAK IT.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE A NEW BUILDING BUILT FOR US BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED OUR OWN BUILDING.
WE NEED OUR OWN SENIOR CENTER.
SURE. BUT I'M REALLY, REALLY WANTING US TO KEEP OUR STAFF.
WE REALLY HAVE A GOOD STAFF THERE AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL THAT ARE RUNNING THE SENIOR CENTER.
YOU WEREN'T AT CERAMICS THE OTHER DAY.
WELL, I, I DID CERAMICS AT THE OLD FACILITY.
OH, NO. NO THE OTHER DAY YOU WEREN'T OUT THERE.
I STOPPED BY TO SAY HI TO EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A MINOR IN ART, SO I LOVE ART.
SO I'M SO GLAD NOW THAT YOU'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND YOU WANT TO FIND US A PLACE FOR THE SENIORS BECAUSE WE NEED A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE PLACE, AND WE WANT ONE THAT'S REASONABLY, THAT THE COST IS REASONABLE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SENIORS CAN'T AFFORD $25 A MONTH OR $42 FOR A COUPLE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE CONSIDER ALL THIS AND AND BUILD US A NEW CENTER.
THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED.
[00:55:02]
AND I DO APPRECIATE IT.THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU, MAYOR . AND I KNOW YOU TOLD ME AT THE, AT MY CHURCH AT CONCORDIA LUTHERAN WHEN YOU CAME FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING THAT YOU WERE GOING TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR A NEW CITY HALL AND A NEW SENIOR CENTER. OH, MY GOD, I'M JUST ALWAYS OUT THERE PROMOTING.
YEAH. SO I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
YEAH. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. YEA I KNOW.
IT WAS SUCH A GREAT DAY. OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL. [APPLAUSE] APPRECIATE THAT.
LAST AND NOT LEAST, MR. BOB COCHRANE. SO YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A BOW ON TOP OF THIS FOR US? SURE. BOB COCHRANE, 2252 BEDFORD CIRCLE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY.
OH, WAIT. [LAUGHTER] I'M SORRY.
WRONG NOTES. SO, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DENIES THAT THE SENIORS GOT ONE OF THE SHORT ENDS OF THE STICK OR SHORT END OF ONE OF THE STICKS.
TENNIS PLAYER, SOCCER PLAYERS, ROLLERBLADESR.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS ALL DUE PRIMARILY TO A POOR ESTIMATION BY THE CONSULTANTS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO ALL THAT STUFF.
AND WHEN THE TIME CAME THAT WAS RECOGNIZED, IT WAS KIND OF TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO IT'S LIKE, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO FORWARD TO BOND, DO THE BEST WE CAN.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT THAT WAS ALL DONE BY A FORMER CITY COUNCIL .
NOW, TWO OF THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ON THAT COUNCIL.
THEY WERE A MINORITY ON THE COUNCIL.
I DIDN'T CHECK TO SEE HOW THEY VOTED.
DOESN'T MATTER. BUT THIS COUNCIL GOT TASKED WITH DEALING WITH WHAT HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY AND MAKING THE BEST OF IT.
AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DOING IT.
I'VE BEEN EITHER COMING TO COUNCIL OR WATCHING ON TV FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE.
I HAVE HEARD TONIGHT, FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT THEY DIDN'T GET AND WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO AND HOW WE OUGHT TO DO IT AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF COMING TO COUNCIL OR WATCHING ON TV, I'M AWARE THAT THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE NEED.
IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, I THINK A WEEK AGO TONIGHT, IT WAS ONE OF THE SPECIFIC ITEMS THEY MENTIONED, NOT IN PASSING, BUT THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'LL COME BEFORE A NEW FIRE STATION BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE ONE NOW, MAYBE NOT THE GREATEST, BUT AN ADEQUATE ONE AND ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ALL HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN RECENTLY OF THE NEED FOR A STANDALONE SENIOR CENTER.
LET'S MAKE A DEAL TO BUY THE YMCA.
I DON'T KNOW WHY AMY IS SMILING.
PAGE TWO. I THINK I WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, WHICH I WILL, BUT I STARTED OUT THERE BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER, AND SOME WOULD IMPLY THAT WE EITHER DIDN'T NEED A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OR THEY GOT FAVORED OVER SENIORS.
AND I WENT BACK AND I LOOKED AT THE SPECIFIC WORDING ON THE BOND, AND IT'S NOT VERY SPECIFIC OTHER THAN FIX THINGS UP AT THE BOYS RANCH AND OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, I THINK.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT GOT OVERRODE, OVERRIDDEN.
MY WIFE FOR 20 YEARS WAS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE REGAL OPERA COMPANY.
[01:00:06]
SHE STARTED IT AND SHE RAN IT.THEY PUT ON FULL OPERAS TWICE A YEAR.
THEY PERFORMED AT THE COLLEYVILLE CENTER, TCJC NORTHEAST, OLD BEDFORD SCHOOLHOUSE AND ON STAGE.
AND THIS WAS DUE TO EITHER WHO HAD THE ABILITY TO LET THEM IN AT THE TIMES THEY WANTED OR WHO HAD SOME REASONABLE PRICING THEY COULD PAY OR SOME OTHER THINGS.
IT WASN'T NECESSARILY PREFERENCE OF ONE PLACE OVER THE OTHER.
AND EXCEPT FOR TCJC, WHERE IT WAS A REAL THEATER.
THE OTHER PLACES, THEY DIDN'T HAVE SEPARATE DRESSING ROOMS. GENERALLY THE PEOPLE DRESSED IN THE BATHROOMS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GREEN ROOM.
THEY CONGREGATED OUT IN THE LOBBY.
AND HER FOLLOWING WAS, I WOULD ESTIMATE, SOMEHOW I ENDED UP BEING THE TICKET TAKER MANY TIMES, OVER 70% WERE SENIORS.
AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEM WERE REPEATS.
IT WAS SOMETHING THEY LOOKED FORWARD TO.
WHEN THEY GOT DONE IT WAS, WHEN IS YOUR NEXT ONE GOING TO BE? I'M GLAD THAT JIMMY ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT HE COULD FIND THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET IT FROM 5 MILLION TO 10 MILLION.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES THIS.
AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT HE CAN.
AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT FOR ONCE OUR TAXES WENT DOWN, WE'RE GETTING MORE FOR LESS MONEY.
WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC MAYOR, EXCELLENT COUNCIL, THAT ARE ALL WORKING TOWARDS GETTING BEDFORD BETTER AND MAKING BEDFORD BEST.
I JUST WISH YOU'D WEAR YOUR TOP HAT OCCASIONALLY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I HAVE A LASAGNA WAITING AT HOME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING A BOW ON TOP OF THAT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S OPINION.
WOULD YOU MIND ELABORATING ON THAT? YES, SIR. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS THERE'S, I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE.
AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE USE OUR GREAT COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OR.
YEAH. YEAH. WON TWO MAJOR AWARDS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S MALICIOUS, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE'S MISINFORMATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS MIDDLE TO LATE NEXT WEEK, AND WE'LL HEAVILY PUBLICIZE IT.
WE WILL BE SOMEWHAT PRECLUDED FROM SHARING EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE IN A POSITION TO SAY ENOUGH TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE THINKING WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY OR FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS TO BE CONSISTENT AND HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT, HERE'S WHAT WE ENVISION, HERE'S WHAT WE THINK NEXT STEPS ARE, AND THAT IT'S, IN THIS SITUATION, IT'S REALLY EASY FOR INFORMATION TO GO SIDEWAYS AND A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BE CREATED.
I THINK WE WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL HERE AND HOW WE'RE DOING IT.
SO, YES, SIR, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DO THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE'S WELCOME.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE.
WE GOT A COUPLE OF ITEMS HERE.
WE GOT A COUPLE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, ITEM TEN.
THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR THAT TOO.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL ITEM 10.
[10. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to amend the Bedford Commons Planned Unit Development, providing for a detailed development plan for Lot 6R2, Block 1, First Bedford Addition, located at 2004 L. Don Dodson Drive, Bedford, Texas, to allow for a 5,346 square feet addition to their existing commercial office building. The property is generally located south of L. Don Dodson Drive, approximately 315 feet east of Parkwood Drive, and is commonly known as 2004 L. Don Dodson Drive. (PUD-22-1) (Item was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission by a vote of 7-0-0)]
EDITION LOCATED AT 2004 L.[01:05:05]
THE PROPERTY IS GENERALLY LOCATED SOUTH OF L.DON DODSON DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 315 FEET EAST OF PARKWOOD DRIVE AND IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2004 L.
DON DODSON DRIVE. I WANT TO WELCOME TO THE DAIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WES MORRISON.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS A REQUEST TO AMEND THE PUD.
SO THIS IS A SITE PLAN CHANGE.
SO THEREFORE THE NEED FOR A ADDITION TO THE BUILDING.
THE ADDITION'S GOING TO BE TOWARD THE REAR.
SO IF YOU KNOW THE SITE, THEN THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY IS VACANT CURRENTLY.
SO THEY WILL TAKE UP THE ENTIRE LOT THERE.
YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE KEEPING THE SAME ARCHITECTURAL STYLES.
LIKE, WE TREAT THIS LIKE A ZONING CHANGE.
SO WE PUT A SIGN ON THE PROPERTY.
WE NOTIFIED EVERYONE WITHIN 200 FEET.
THAT RESULTED IN 16 PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND AS OF TODAY, WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE REQUEST.
THE CONVERSATION THERE PRIMARILY CENTERED AROUND TYPES OF LANDSCAPING THEY WERE DOING.
ONE P&Z COMMISSIONER WAS MORE IN FAVOR OF SOME NATIVE LANDSCAPING.
THE REST OF THE P&Z WANTED TO STICK WITH THE LANDSCAPING THING THAT'S ALREADY ON SITE.
SO THAT WAS WHY THE ONE DISSENTING VOTE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
SO NO OTHER CONCERNS? NO SIR. OKAY.
VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:28.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN COMING UP WITH ADVICE, RECOMMENDATIONS OR OBSERVATIONS, PLEASE COME UP.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JUAN VASQUEZ WITH VASQUEZ ENGINEERING, 1919 SOUTH SHILOH ROAD, GARLAND, TEXAS, 75042.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE TENANT, LINQ.
LINQ IS EXCITED TO STAY IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
THEY'RE EXPANDING THEIR OPERATIONS.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED AND WE LOOK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
VERY GOOD. SO TELL US WHAT LINQ DOES.
THEY'RE A LOGISTICS COMPANY AND THEY DEAL WITH JUST SHIPPING AND STUFF.
I THINK ITS ANTHONY, IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND.
I'M GIVING YOU ALL MARKETING OPPORTUNITY HERE.
COME ON UP. LADIES, GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS ANTHONY DAYER, VP FOR LINQ TRANSPORT.
WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS.
MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD, WE GET TOGETHER.
THEY'VE ALREADY LEFT. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANY MONEY.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I GOT TO GIVE THEM PROPS.
OH, BARBARA'S HERE. THEY'RE HERE.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT. I SEE THEM NOW.
MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD WE CAN SIT DOWN AND WE CAN COORDINATE SOMETHING TOGETHER.
FREE TRANSPORTATION WILL GO A LONG WAY.
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS.
ME AND MY BROTHER, WE STARTED IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS.
WE LIVED IN BEDFORD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, SO THIS IS ALL WE KNEW WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE.
DON DODSON. WE AGAIN, WE EMPLOY ABOUT, WE HOUSE ABOUT 80 TO 90 EMPLOYEES HERE IN THE BEDFORD OFFICE.
OVERALL, COUNTRYWIDE, WE'RE ABOUT 150 RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S GREAT. AND WE PLAN TO EXPAND OUR CORPORATE OFFICE IN BEDFORD TO ABOUT 140-145 EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.
WE DO. AND YOU GOT BEDFORD ON THE LETTERHEAD? YES, WE DO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S A SHAMELESS PLUG, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:30.
COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? ANYTHING ELSE. WES, YOU NEED TO ADD TO THIS?
[01:10:02]
NO, SIR. STAFF HAS SOMETHING ELSE.OKAY, COUNCIL. WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
MOTION TO APPROVE? YEAH, I MOVE. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.
LET'S VOTE. WE'RE ALL AIMLESSLY HITTING THE BUTTON.
THANK YOU, JUAN. APPRECIATE YOU ALL EXPANDING.
LET'S HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING WHEN YOU GET THAT OPEN.
THANK YOU, STAFF. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
[11. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone the property described as Lot 2R01 Block 1 Bedford Centre Addition, located at 209 Bedford Road, Suite 165, from Heavy Commercial (H) to Heavy Commercial/Specific Use Permit/Indoor Amusement. (PZ-SUP-2022-50069) (Item was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission by a vote of 7-0-0)]
209 BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 165, FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL (H) TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL/SPECIFIC USE PERMIT/ INDOOR AMUSEMENT.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO THUS THE REASON FOR THE APPLICATION TONIGHT.
SO THEY STOPPED WORK AND THEY'VE BEEN IN PAUSE SINCE THEN.
WITH AN SUP, WE LOOK AT SURROUNDING LAND USES TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY.
THE REST OF THE SHOPPING CENTER APPEARS TO BE VACANT.
OUTSIDE THAT SHOPPING CENTER THERE'S AN OFFICE.
AS WITH ANY TYPE OF ZONING CHANGE, WE NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET.
IN THIS CASE, WE NOTIFIED EIGHT PROPERTY OWNERS.
THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MET ON THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THEY HELD THE FIRST OR THEY HELD THEIR PUBLIC HEARING IN SEPTEMBER 22ND AND THEY TABLED IT TO ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO WORK WITH STAFF TO COME UP WITH SOME CONDITIONS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.
SO IT ENDED IN A TIE VOTE, WHICH WAS A NO ACTION.
SO WE BROUGHT IT BACK ON OCTOBER 27TH.
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ACT ON IT, THERE HAS TO BE AN ACTION FROM P&Z.
SO ON OCTOBER 27TH, P&Z REVIEWED THE CONDITIONS WITH A FULL BODY AND THEY ALSO HAD AN ADDITIONAL PRESENTATION FROM THE APPLICANT AND THEY DECIDED TO RECOMMEND BY A VOTE OF 7 TO 0.
THAT'S IN THERE TWICE. THAT'S NOT IT.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? MAYBE I JUST PUT THAT IN THERE TWICE.
I APOLOGIZE. THE CONDITIONS THAT P&Z RECOMMENDED ARE THAT NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS BE FROM 10 A.M.
TO MIDNIGHT. IF THERE ARE TOURNAMENTS, AND THOSE TOURNAMENTS LAST PAST MIDNIGHT, THEN THE BUSINESS OWNER HAS TO SUPPLY A LICENSED PEACE OFFICER TO BE PRESENT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF MIDNIGHT AND 10 A.M..
AND MIDNIGHT. AND THE APPLICANT AGREED TO ALL THOSE? YES. AND WHAT IS THE BUSINESS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THERE? THEY ARE GOING TO, AND I'LL LET THE APPLICANT SPEAK MORE DETAIL IN THEIR BUSINESS PLAN.
BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE GOING TO, IT'S A GAMING CENTER WHERE PEOPLE COME AND THEY PLAY GAMES.
JIMMY, YOU KNOW I'M KEEPING UP WITH THE TRENDS.
[LAUGHTER] WITH THAT I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
YES, SIR. WHAT DO WE DO IN THE WAY OF INSPECTING THE PROPERTY? AS FAR AS? THE LIVABLE CONDITION OF THE UNIT ITSELF? OKAY, SO IF THIS GETS APPROVED TONIGHT, THEN THE NEXT STEP IN THIS CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY PROCESS IS FOR INSPECTION.
SO FIRE WILL GO OUT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL GO OUT, BUILDING INSPECTIONS GO OUT.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NOPE. OKAY, LET'S OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:36.
[01:15:04]
ANYONE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OR INPUT.SIR, WELCOME TO THE MICROPHONE.
THANK YOU. I'M THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS, IT'S CALLED KOMBAT ARCADE.
AND YOUR NAME SIR? DEVYN GUY. I'M FROM ARLINGTON.
OKAY. WE WON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU.
THANK YOU. AND REALLY, WHERE WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS BEFORE THE COVID LOCKDOWN HAPPENED, I WAS ABLE TO GET WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND GET A LOAN STRUCTURED FOR THE ORIGINAL USE THAT I WANTED TO SET UP, WHICH WAS MORE OF A HYBRID RESTAURANT AND MODERN ARCADE CONCEPT.
AND SO, WHAT THEY PROPOSED BASICALLY WAS FOR ME TO COME UP WITH MORE OR LESS A SMALLER FOOTPRINT, PROOF OF CONCEPT, AND THEN THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ME ONCE I HAVE SOME REVENUE IN PLACE.
YEAH. AND SO REALLY WHAT PUTS ME IN THIS POSITION IS SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET WITH A LOCAL VIDEO GAMING CHARITY ORGANIZATION CALLED LAN ALL NIGHT.
AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF TOURNAMENTS AND CONTESTS FOR THEM.
AND SO THAT'S JUST HOW I'VE BEEN ACTIVE SINCE THE COVID LOCKDOWN HAS HAPPENED . SINCE THEN AS WELL, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT DOES WORK WITH DISD DIRECTLY CALLED ESPOSURE, AND THEY DO A LOT OF LIKE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS ESPORTS, WHICH IS JUST VIDEO GAMING AS A SPORT.
AND, BUT YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH KIND OF THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE GOT GOING ON.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WAY MORE THAN AN ARCADE.
YEAH. SO WHERE, FOR THE MOST PART, THESE ARE GOING TO BE YOUTHS.
YES. OR LESS. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE COMING FROM TO COME TO YOUR PLACE? REALLY, IT'S FROM ALL OVER JUST BECAUSE OF THE NICHE.
IT'S NOT AS WELL SUPPLIED EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE GREATER DFW.
SO LIKE, THERE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PEOPLE FROM PLANO, FROM LIKE BURLESON, FROM DENTON.
DEFINITELY LIKE IN THE GARLAND AREA.
DEFINITELY FROM KELLER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM.
AND SEE, THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE.
WHY DID YOU PICK BEDFORD? I PICKED BEDFORD BECAUSE OF, WELL REALLY JUST BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PROPERTY.
ONE OF THE. AND WE'RE A GREAT TOWN.
YES, I LOVE. I LOVE HEB AS A WHOLE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND SO IT'S JUST THAT BEDFORD HAD EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED.
OKAY. THE SPOT THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW HAS THE ABILITY FOR US TO EXPAND LITERALLY NEXT DOOR.
SO ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS KNOCK DOWN A WALL IF OUR CONCEPT IS GOOD.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE SUPER EXTRA TO FIND WHAT WE NEED TO EXPAND INTO.
SO THAT HELPS WHENEVER PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY COME IN TO THE AREA OR EVEN FROM OUTSIDE OF STATE COME TO THE AREA, THERE'S SOMEWHERE VERY CLOSE BY THE AIRPORT FOR THEM TO GO TO.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT THIS LOCATION CAN PROVIDE YOU WHAT YOU NEED? DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S IN GOOD ENOUGH CONDITION TO MEET YOUR NEEDS? YES, I DO BELIEVE IT'S IN GOOD ENOUGH CONDITION FOR US TO MEET OUR NEEDS RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD SAY WHAT IS WORKING IN OUR FAVOR AS FAR AS THE LOCATION IS JUST THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SELL THE IDEA THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY HAVING TO BOOTSTRAP THIS, SO TO SPEAK.
OKAY, GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE TO SPEAK ON THE MICROPHONE.
I KNOW. AND I'M NOT A VERY GOOD SPEAKER.
ME NEITHER. MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS ARE PAID UP.
SAME HERE. I'M AGAINST WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
[01:20:02]
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? SHERRY DAVIS AND I LIVE IN BEDFORD RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.THANK YOU. I'M OPPOSED TO WHAT HE'S SAYING BECAUSE AT THE URBAN TRAMPOLINE, URBAN, WHATEVER THAT IS OVER THERE BY THE MOVIE TAVERN, THERE'S CONSTANTLY FIGHTS.
I MEAN, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE GET TOGETHER AND THEY GO OUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND THEY FIGHT.
THEY'RE ALREADY RACING VEHICLES UP AND DOWN THE STREET AND AT PENNINGTON FIELD.
SO WHAT'S TO STOP THEM FROM GOING CRAZY IF THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER, LIKE HE SAID, FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE? YEAH. SO I'M OPPOSED TO IT.
WHY DON'T WE ASK HIM? YEAH. I'M ASKING YOU.
HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU ADDRESS ANY ISSUES WITH ANY CONFRONTATIONAL SITUATIONS OUT THERE? SO THE SHORT ANSWER FOR THIS IS THAT WE HAVE TO FOSTER A CERTAIN TYPE OF COMMUNITY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP WHERE IT'S LIKE NO SHENANIGANS BASICALLY.
WE DO HAVE LIKE A GAMER'S CODE OF CONDUCT TYPE THING, A GAMER'S CREED, AS YOU WILL.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT PRETTY WELL UP TO THIS POINT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO? IS THAT SAFE TO SAY? YES, QUITE SENSITIVE TO, I WOULD SAY.
AND SO, YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S JUST, I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY HELP IT, BUT THE IDEA IS DEFINITELY THERE THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT KEEPING IT UP TO SNUFF BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT CONNOTATION OUT THERE.
OKAY. AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, ME AND MY BUSINESS PARTNER BRIAN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD EVENTS OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD ANY INCIDENTS AT ALL. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE, BUT WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY FIGHTS AND WE ARE JUST ASSERTIVE ENOUGH AS LEADERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S SAFE AND EVERYONE IS OKAY.
AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD.
THANK YOU, MS. DAVIS, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
BUT WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO KNOW IF THEY'RE BRINGING GUNS OR ALCOHOL IN? GO AHEAD. COME SPEAK TO MIC.
THANK YOU. I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT'S PREVENTING GUNS AND ALCOHOL? WHAT'S PREVENTING THEM FROM GOING OUT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND GOING IN THEIR CARS AND DRINKING OR BRINGING A GUN IN? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF THEY'VE GOT GUNS ON THEM OR NOT? REALLY JUST MY ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT NO, THERE'S NO REAL GUARANTEE WITH ANY BUSINESS FLAT OUT, BUT US BEING ABLE TO KNOW OUR PEOPLE AND BE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN JUST THEIR LIVES HELPS WITH CURBING ANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS. WHENEVER IT'S KNOWN THAT THAT ENVIRONMENT DOESN'T EXIST WHERE WE'RE AT, IT JUST DOESN'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT KIND OF STUFF FROM MY EXPERIENCE.
AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FOSTER SINCE 2011.
I USED TO DO EVENTS AT MY HOUSE AND IT'S JUST GROWN A LOT BIGGER THAN WHAT I'VE HAD AND.
HAVING THAT HISTORY IN PLACE I THINK WILL HELP WITH CURBING THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY.
BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'LL BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET INVOLVED WITH.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH THE CHARITY ORGANIZATION I'M A PART OF.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO POLICE THAT KIND OF ACTION AS WELL.
SO, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU.
APPRECIATE. I APPRECIATE THAT HONESTY.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? SIR, PLEASE COME ON UP.
WHAT AGE GROUP IS IT GOING TO BE? ARE WE TALKING 14 TO 18, 18 TO 20.
WHAT AGE GROUP WILL BE RELATIVE TO THIS LOCATION? SURE, I CAN ANSWER THAT. SO THE THE GENERAL AGE GROUP RIGHT NOW, LIKE THE PEOPLE I HAVE RIGHT NOW, ARE AVERAGING ABOUT
[01:25:08]
32 YEARS OLD, I BELIEVE.THAT'S JUST OUR CURRENT SET OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S BASED ON JUST A SET, LIKE A COMMUNITY THAT WAS ALREADY HERE BUT ISN'T BEING SERVED, FROM ALL THE WAY BACK IN 2009.
SO LIKE I SAID, THAT'S OUR AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE YOUNGER CROWD OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME OUT.
AND SO AS WE GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND ALSO DISD TO DO THEIR STUFF, I'M SURE THAT AVERAGE WILL DROP TO MAYBE AROUND 20, MAYBE.
SO THAT'S THE AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
ONE OTHER QUESTION. HOW MANY PEOPLE AT ONE TIME WOULD YOU THINK WOULD BE IN THE BUILDING OR AREA? SURE. SO.
BUT SOMETIMES THE EVENTS CAN GET PRETTY LARGE.
NOW, LOCALLY, THE LARGEST EVENT THAT WE HAVE IS ABOUT, WHAT IS THAT, LIKE 120 PEOPLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND THEN THE ESPOSURE GUYS WHO WORK WITH DISD, THEIR EVENTS ARE ONLY ABOUT 60 PEOPLE LARGE, JUST BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL CLASSES.
SO THAT'S ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD HAVE ON AVERAGE, I WOULD SAY.
BUT YOU RECOGNIZE YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY? CORRECT. YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO CONTROL, 60 TO 80 20 YEAR OLDS WITH NO POLICE ON THE SITE.
NOT A CHANCE. WE DO HAVE SECURITY, LIKE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THINGS THAT WE ALREADY USE FOR THE GAMING CHARITY. AND THAT EVENT RIGHT NOW IS PULLING ABOUT 150 PEOPLE.
WE'VE GROWN THAT FROM ABOUT 50 PEOPLE.
HOW MANY SECURITY? 1, 2, 10? WE HAVE, IT'S TWO DEDICATED STAFF FOR THAT.
WE BRING ON TWO OTHER VOLUNTEERS DURING THE EVENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TWO HOTEL SECURITY GUYS THAT WE HIRE FOR THAT.
SO IT'S SIX ALTOGETHER, BUT IT'S ALL KIND OF STAGGERED JUST OVER THE WHOLE DAY.
GOOD LUCK. WE'VE HAD SUCCESS WITH IT FOR NOW.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE ON THE REGULAR.
ANYONE ELSE, ANY THOUGHTS? YOU GOT SOMETHING? GO AHEAD. COME ON UP. HELLO, EVERYBODY.
MARK [INAUDIBLE]. I'M ACTUALLY, COME FROM A FARM LAND CALLED PRINCETON, TEXAS.
SO, ACTUALLY I WORKED WITH THESE GUYS FOR.
I KNOW I SHOULD BE A STANDUP COMEDIAN, BUT.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING TODAY, MARK.
SO I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DEVYN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS NOW.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE OTHER BUSINESS OWNER, BRIAN GREER, OVER HERE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.
OUR LAST EVENT THAT WE DID WAS LAN ALL NIGHT.
WE HAD, HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, A RANGE OF AGES, WE HAD OUR YOUNGEST PLAYER AROUND LIKE EIGHT YEARS OLD.
AND ONE OF THE, ACTUALLY TWO OF OUR TOURNAMENTS, A 13 YEAR OLD WON.
AND HE ACTUALLY, HE BEAT EVERYONE.
HE WAS REALLY, HE WAS FANTASTIC AT THAT.
ONE THING THAT WE DID DO WITH THE PROPERTY, THAT WE DID ACTUALLY INSTALL CAMERAS TOO.
SO WE DO HAVE CAMERAS INSTALLED.
WE ALSO DO HAVE LIKE FORMS TO SIGN.
AND ONE THING WE DID, WE DID HAVE THE MINOR WAIVER.
SO WHENEVER THEY HAVE TO COME IN, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE, THEY WILL NEED A LEGAL GUARDIAN AS WELL TO SIGN THAT EVEN 32 YEAR OLDS? YES, ACTUALLY ALSO AS WELL.
I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU'RE FINE.
WE SO FAR AND WITH ALL OUR EVENTS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'VE, I'VE ALSO BEEN, BEFORE WORKING WITH BRIAN, I HAD MY OWN ORGANIZATION.
SO I WORKED ALL AROUND DALLAS.
[01:30:01]
SO IN MY EXPERIENCE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER THE AGES.LIKE I'VE SEEN IT'S, FROM, YOU KNOW, 12 TO, YOU KNOW, 30.
YOU KNOW, THE CURIOSITY OF THESE GAMES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH ARCADES, IT'S DEFINITELY BECOMING MORE AND MORE, GENERALLY IT'S PULLING IN MORE AND MORE BECAUSE JUST GAMING IN GENERAL IS, IT'S ECONOMY IS GROWING LIKE EXPONENTIALLY.
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE SPACE INVADERS OR GALAGA OR FROGGER OR ANY OF THOSE? WE MIGHT HAVE TO ACTUALLY.
YEAH. OH, YEAH. NO, WE'LL DEFINITELY GET THAT, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO [LAUGHTER].
BUT, UM, YEAH, IT'S JUST WITH ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCE, IT'S JUST A GENERAL LOVE OF IT.
WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, JUST ME AND BRIAN.
I ACTUALLY MET HIM AT ONE OF HIS EVENTS THROUGH A FACEBOOK AD, SO I CAME TO, YOU KNOW, I CAME TO THIS EVENT AND HE ACTUALLY DID AN EVENT OVER AT THE MICROSOFT STORE THAT WAS IN NORTH PARK IN DALLAS, TOO.
AND THEN WE JUST, IT'S, THIS IS ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS NOW, BUT IT'S.
BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SHARING. [LAUGHTER] WE APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER STEVES, YOU HAD A QUESTION? I DO HAVE A QUESTION. HOW MANY TOURNAMENTS DO YOU EXPECT TO GO FROM MIDNIGHT TO 10 A.M.? HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN? FROM OVERNIGHT OR JUST FROM.
YEAH, IT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LICENSED PEACE OFFICER BETWEEN.
YEAH, IT'LL BE AFTER MIDNIGHT FROM HOW I UNDERSTAND IT.
IS THAT A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE? IT WILL NOT BE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE JUST BECAUSE OF THE HOURS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO START THE EVENTS.
IN OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR LONGEST STUFF IS ONLY GONE FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE WEIRD EXCEPTIONS WHERE MAYBE AN ENTIRE SCHOOL DECIDES TO COME OUT AND IT TRIPLES OUR NORMAL NUMBERS, AND THAT MAY TAKE US LONGER THAN 10 P.M. NOW WE HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY SIGNED AND ALL THEIR PARENTS HAVE TO BE THERE, TOO.
FOR ALL THAT, IF A SCHOOL CAME OUT, BUT IF I WAS GOING TO PUT AN ACTUAL NUMBER TO IT.
BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY REALLY OPERATING ON THAT LEVEL MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES A MONTH.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY CUT EVERYTHING OFF BY 10 P.M.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT AREA IS JUST MORE OF PADDING TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS SOMETHING A LITTLE LONGER THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GIVE THE APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCE FOR THE PLAYERS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. STEVES.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING UP.
YES. SO, DEVYN, IS YOUR BUSINESS MODELED AFTER AN.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS AT DIFFERENT PLACES LIKE NORTH PARK OR AT A MICROSOFT STORE, ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE, WHERE IT WAS A SPECIAL EVENT AT A PARTICULAR LOCATION.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO IS KIND OF HAVE A PERMANENT LOCATION WHERE THESE EVENTS WILL HAPPEN.
SO ARE THERE ADDITIONAL PLACES LIKE THAT, THAT HAVE THESE LIKE ARCADE TOURNAMENTS? YES, THERE ARE. LOCALLY, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE.
TECHNICALLY, ALL OF THE FREE PLAY LOCATIONS DO, AND THEY HAVE FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE METROPLEX.
THEY'RE JUST NOT PERMANENT FIXTURES, LIKE I WOULD SAY LIKE A DOJO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
SO LIKE, WHENEVER THE PLAYERS COME THROUGH, IT IS A CRAFT.
PLAYING THE VIDEO GAMES IS REALLY A CRAFT.
SO KIND OF LIKE A KARATE TOURNAMENT TYPE THING.
AND SO THE NUMBER OF PLACES LIKE THAT ARE TECHNICALLY FEW.
ESPOSURE USED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.
BUT SINCE THEIR MOVEMENT TO THE EDUCATION SIDE OF THINGS, THEY DON'T DO THAT AS MUCH.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY STARTED AT. IT WAS CALLED GEEKLETES, AND IT WAS IN DESOTO.
[01:35:03]
THEY WERE VERY MUCH A DOJO KIND OF PLACE.IN FACT, AN ACTUAL ORGANIZATION CALLED E.X.
DOJO CAME FROM THAT SPOT, WHICH IS A LOCAL JUST ONLINE THING.
WE'RE REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT GOJO.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT DOJO IS? I DO NOT. OKAY.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A KARATE THING.
LIKE WHENEVER YOU'RE AT A KARATE HOUSE OR, LIKE.
I JUST WATCHED THE PREVIOUS, HIS INITIAL PRESENTATION.
I'M SO CULTURALLY DISAPPOINTED YOU DON'T.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT CONCEPT? [LAUGHTER] SO THAT SPACE FOR THEM IS JUST CALLED A DOJO.
IT'S JUST A SCHOOL FOR COMBAT ARTS, BASICALLY.
SO WE'RE KIND OF SIMULATING THAT SAME IDEA.
BUT WITH THE VIDEO GAME SIDE, JUST BECAUSE THE TYPE OF VIDEO GAMES WE'RE TRYING TO PLAY.
SURE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW YOUR BUSINESS IS RUN.
BUT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY.
MM HMM. AND YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT'S NOT IN THE BEST OF SHAPE.
BECAUSE YOU DO SIGN A CONTRACT AND YOU'RE OBLIGATED.
I MEAN, I'VE ALREADY SIGNED A LEASE FOR THE SPACE, SO I'M KIND OF, SO TO SPEAK, LOCKED IN AS IT IS.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
SO WHEN DISD COMES IN, LIKE DALLAS, I ASSUME INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMES IN FOR A TOURNAMENT, THEY WOULD BRING BUSES AND THEY WOULD BRING LIKE 50 OR 60 KIDS.
BUT YOU HAVE DONE THIS ELSEWHERE? YOU'VE DONE THIS IN DALLAS.
CORRECT. SO WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? TAKEN THE MACHINES OVER TO THEM OR HAVE YOU HAD ANOTHER LOCATION IN DALLAS? THE PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH OUT OF DALLAS, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MACHINES.
SO YOU JUST YOU JUST RUN THE EVENT? RIGHT. YOU JUST GO WHERE THE MACHINES ARE? YEAH. WE, IN THAT PARTICULAR PARTNERSHIP, WE WOULD ACTUALLY JUST BE SUPPLYING THE TALENT TECHNICALLY, AND WE WOULD RUN THE TOURNAMENT.
SO THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME OUT WITH YOUR OWN MACHINES AND HAVING THE LOCATION OF YOUR OWN ? LOCATION OF MY OWN? YES.
IS IT A BYOB PLACE? COULD I BRING MY OWN BOOZE AND PLAY GAMES? I THINK LEGALLY YOU COULD, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWING IT AT OUR SPOT.
GO AHEAD AND POUR IT OUT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WILL YOU ALLOW FOOD IN? WE WOULD ALLOW FOOD IN. YEAH.
THAT'S A TRICK QUESTION. [LAUGHTER] OKAY. WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH THIS? SO SORRY. I WAS JUST CHECKING IT OUT.
SURE, SURE. I THINK WE NEED TO LEVEL UP, COUNCIL.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER COGAN [LAUGHTER]. I DON'T KNOW HOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THAT.
WE HAD A CONCERNED MEMBER IN THE AUDIENCE MENTIONED URBAN AIR AND WITH TEENS AND EVERYTHING.
AND SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MITIGATE THAT? IS THIS A PLACE WHERE PARENTS ARE JUST GOING TO DROP OFF THEIR KIDS AND SEE YOU LATER? BECAUSE I CAN SEE WHERE THAT WOULD LEAD TO ISSUES? YEAH, I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT WHENEVER IT FIRST ONSET HAPPENED.
AND I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM ON THAT FRONT IS MOSTLY BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES ON THE FLOOR AREN'T, THEY SHOULDN'T, BUT THEY DON'T BABYSIT THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP. HOW COULD THEY? BUT WITH OUR LOCATION, IT'S VERY INTIMATE AND THE PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE VERY, YOU KNOW, JUST IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT, I WOULD HOPE, THAT THE WAY THAT WE MARKET OURSELVES, THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT FOR WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING, AND FOR US SPECIFICALLY, WE WOULD BE ENGAGING THE CUSTOMERS, IF YOU WILL, JUST A LOT MORE THAN WHAT THE JUMP HOUSE WOULD.
[01:40:01]
KIND OF LICENSING AND EVERYTHING TO THAT NATURE SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE COULD BE OBVIOUSLY UNSUPERVISED MINORS THERE.DO YOU HAVE ANY TRAINING ALONG WITH THAT? NOT ANY SPECIFIC TRAINING, BUT AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SINCE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE A CHILD CARE FACILITY, WE WOULDN'T NEED ANY TYPE OF CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSING FOR THAT.
SO DO YOU REQUIRE PARENTS TO SIGN, SIGN OFF BEFORE THEIR CHILD IS IN THERE.
YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WHEN A MINOR WOULD SHOW UP, IT'S LIKE, HEY.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU GUYS HAVE TO FILL OUT THIS FORM.
WE NEED A PARENT TO, SO THAT WE KNOW IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO YOU, THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE TO PROTECT YOU YEAH, OF COURSE. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANYTHING ELSE? WE'RE STILL IN PUBLIC HEARING.
APPRECIATE IT. LET'S CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:02.
SO COUNCILMEMBER STEVES MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN.
THAT IS WHY WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER GAGLIARDI JOINED US.
SO WE HAVE A 6 TO 1 VOTE, SO THAT PASSES.
SO, GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO BEDFORD.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF SECURITY AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
[12. Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone the property described as Lot 1 Block 7 Canterbury Addition, located at 2701 Harwood Road, from Planned Unit Development (PUD) to Planned Unit Development/Specific Use Permit/Adult Day Care Facility. (SUP-22-2) (Item was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission by a vote of 7-0-0)]
COUNCIL GOOD. DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK? Y'ALL GOOD? ALL RIGHT.ITEM 12, WE GOT ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOT 1 BLOCK 7 CANTERBURY ADDITION, LOCATED AT 2701 HARWOOD ROAD, FROM PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT/SPECIFIC USE PERMIT ADULT DAYCARE FACILITY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS A EXISTING BUILT SITE.
IT'S CURRENTLY A RELIGIOUS FACILITY.
THE APPLICANT IS DESIRING TO LOCATE THERE.
IT'S A COMBINATION OF ADULT AND AN OLDER YOUTH MENTALLY DISABLED CENTER THERE.
THEY CURRENTLY, THE REASON WE PUT IT UNDER THE ADULT DAYCARE CLASSIFICATION IS PRIMARILY JUST FOR DEFINITION PURPOSES IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
BUT THE ZONING ORDINANCE DOES SAY THAT ANYTHING OVER THE AGE OR I'M SORRY, ANYTHING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES AND AGES 13 AND UP.
SO IT WAS A GOOD FIT FOR ADULT DAYCARE.
THE SITE IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED, 13,000 SQUARE FOOT SITE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING USE 7000 SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS THE BACK FELLOWSHIP HALL CLASSROOM AREA AND ABOUT AVERAGE 20 STUDENTS PER DAY AND FIVE STAFF MEMBERS.
HOURS OF OPERATION ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 7:30 TO 6:30.
SITE PHOTOS JUST TO GET AN IDEA FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE AS WELL.
WE THOUGHT WE'D, IN FULL FAITH, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE TEMPORARILY.
WHEN DID YOU ALL ISSUE THAT? I'M SORRY. WHEN DID YOU ALL ISSUE THAT? OCTOBER 7TH, I BELIEVE.
OCTOBER. DON'T QUOTE ME ON THE DATE BUT OCTOBER.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THEY THEY WERE GIVEN THAT FOR 60 DAYS TO ALLOW US TO GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO OBVIOUSLY, IF THIS IS DENIED, THAT WILL BE REVOKED.
WE HAVE PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL ON THE NORTH, WEST AND SOUTH WITH A SCHOOL AND OTHER BUSINESSES FURTHER TO THE EAST. WE NOTIFIED 31 PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WERE THERE ANY CONCERNS AT P&Z? NO, SIR. VERY GOOD.
COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
LET'S OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING, 8:05.
ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? MARGARET HALL. OKAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:05.
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, WES? NO, SIR. OKAY. I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI, DIDN'T EVEN HIT THE BUTTON.
I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SECOND TO COUNCILMEMBER FARGO.
LET'S VOTE. YOU JUST GOT HERE.
NO COMMENT, ROB. THAT IS UNANIMOUS, 7-0, SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
[01:45:07]
THANK YOU, STAFF CONGRATULATIONS THE CLUBHOUSE ON YOUR NEW HOME.[13. Consider an ordinance authorizing amendments to the adopted annual budget of the City of Bedford, Texas for the fiscal period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023; providing for intra-fund and/or intra-departmental transfers; providing for investment of idle funds; and declaring an effective date.]
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, PROVIDING FOR INTRA-FUND AND/OR INTRA-DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS, PROVIDING FOR INVESTMENT OF IDLE FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.AND WE HAVE STRATEGIC SERVICES MANAGER MEGAN JAKUBIK.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO YES, WE DO HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR YOU TONIGHT.
THIS IS FOR THREE SPECIFIC ONE TIME PROJECTS JUST TO AUTHORIZE FUNDS.
BUT JUST IN SHORT, IT WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE OUR NETWORK SWITCHES.
WE HAVE THE FUNDS IN OUR COMPUTER REPLACEMENT FUND.
THAT IS A PURPOSE FOR THAT FUND.
AND SO THIS IS GIVING THAT BUDGET AUTHORIZATION.
GENERATIONS PARK, THEY DISCOVERED AS THEY WERE DOING THE REPAIR, THE REBUILD WORK ON DOUG RIVERS ROAD AND THAT IT NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED IN THE BUDGET. AND SO WE PROPOSED TO TAKE THAT FROM 4B, FROM ITS FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS SUFFICIENT FOR THAT EXPENSE.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE ELEVATED STORAGE TANK AT CUMMINGS DRIVE.
IT'S A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION PROJECT.
WE WERE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING SWIFT.
AND SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO TAKE IT FROM THE UTILITY REPAIR MAINTENANCE FUND.
IF YOU RECALL, WE DO TRANSFER FUNDING THERE EVERY YEAR SO THAT WE ARE BUILDING CAPITAL FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS OR APPROPRIATE CAPITAL PROJECTS, OF WHICH THIS DOES MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR.
SO AGAIN, WHAT THIS ONE IS DOING IS JUST AUTHORIZING OUT THE BUDGET.
ACTUAL WORD OF CONTRACTS WILL COME THROUGH OTHER PURPOSES IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR PURCHASING POLICY.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ANY CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENTS? NONE OF THESE WILL AFFECT RESERVE REQUIREMENTS IN THOSE PARTICULAR FUNDS.
THERE'S NO RESERVE REQUIREMENT, COMPUTER REPLACEMENT OR UTILITY REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.
AND 4B, IT'S BEEN VALIDATED THAT WE ARE STILL ABOVE OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENTS.
ROB'S GOING STRAIGHT TO A MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS SECONDS THAT.
LET'S VOTE. YOU DON'T WASTE TIME IN CHIT CHAT.
YOU JUST KIND OF GO STRAIGHT OUT.
THANK YOU, STAFF THANK YOU, MAG.
[14. Consider an ordinance of the City of Bedford, Texas amending Subsection “Ambulance Fees” of Section “Fire Department” of Appendix A – Schedule of Fees of the Code of Ordinances, City of Bedford, Texas by updating fees imposed by the City; providing this ordinance shall be cumulative of all ordinances; providing a severability clause; and providing for an effective date.]
CITY OF BEDFORD, TEXAS BY UPDATING FEES IMPOSED BY THE CITY; PROVIDING THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.AND ONCE AGAIN, MEGAN JAKUBIK.
YES. SO AS YOU RECALL, NORMALLY WE DO BRING YOU THE FULL FEE SCHEDULE AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT TO RECONFIGURE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THE AMBULANCE SUBSCRIPTION FEE, WHICH HAS BEEN THE $60 SINCE IT WAS INITIALLY IMPLEMENTED IN 2010 TO $75 ANNUALLY PER HOUSEHOLD.
THEY HAVE REQUESTED THIS FEE REQUEST AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT APPROVED IT, SHOULD THAT BE COUNCIL 'S DESIRE BEFORE RENEWAL NOTICES ARE SENT OUT FOR THE 2023 CALENDAR YEAR. HOW MANY PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT? YOU KNOW, I HAD LOOKED UP THAT NUMBER.
MILLIONS. YEAH, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.
I DO REMEMBER GETTING THAT COUNT NUMBER, AND I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK AND GIVE THE WRONG NUMBER.
THREE FIGURES? AT LEAST. YEAH.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.
AND CHIEF WALKER, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD SOME OTHER THINGS COME UP.
JUST OUR SUPPLY COST WE HAD TO COME BACK WITH AN ADDITIONAL LIKE 40,000 JUST FOR SUPPLIES.
IS IT A QUESTION OR IS IT A MOTION? OKAY. QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.
MY QUESTION IS, IS CAN WE HOLD IT AT $60 FOR THE SENIORS AND $75 FOR EVERYBODY ELSE?
[01:50:08]
THERE'S YOUNG FAMILIES THAT USE IT.I KNOW THAT MY FAMILY DOES IT, BUT IT'S ANOTHER INCREASE ON SENIORS THAT I DON'T THINK THEY NEED.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD SERVICE FOR THEM.
AND WE'RE NOT PROVIDING IT FREE LIKE OTHER CITIZENS, OTHER CITIES.
HAVE YOU DONE A SURVEY OF THE OTHER CITIES? I DO NOT.
BECAUSE WE DON'T BALANCE BILL OUT, BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT WITH MEDICARE.
SPEAKING. AS MEDICARE, IF YOU'RE ON THE REGULAR MEDICARE PLAN, BUT ADVANTAGE.
I JUST WAS TRYING TO THINK BACK TO THE DETAILS OF IT.
ON A ON A SIDE NOTE, IF YOU ARE NOT ENROLLED IN THIS SUBSCRIPTION, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO ENROLL YOURSELF INTO THIS PRESCRIPTION BECAUSE THERE, OR YOU COULD NOT.
OVER HERE, DOROTHY SAYS NO, BUT A LOT.
YOU KNOW, HEALTH CARE INSURANCE ISN'T LIKE IT USED TO BE.
AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET HIT WITH SIX, SEVEN, $800, $1000.
I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS COUNCILMAN FARCO IS SAYING THE CITY OF EULESS DOESN'T BALANCE BILL.
AND THEY MAY NOT. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN AFFORD THAT, BUT THEY MAY BUDGET IT.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT IF, I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST SUBSCRIBING TO THAT BECAUSE GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU, YOUR LOVED ONES AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO GET IS A $1,000 BILL MONTHS LATER.
IS THERE A TIMELINE ON THIS ACTION? THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE IT SO THAT THEY'RE HOLDING ON SENDING THEIR RENEWAL NOTICES WHICH USUALLY GO OUT IN NOVEMBER UNTIL COUNCIL ACTION TONIGHT.
BUT I MEAN TO THE QUESTION OF IF COUNCIL IS OF THE OPINION THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO 75 GENERALLY AND 60 FOR HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNTS THAT QUALIFY AND I'M SPITBALLING LANGUAGE BUT QUALIFY FOR THE SENIOR WATER BILLING RATES ETC.
JIMMY, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN ABOUT EXECUTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IN TERMS OF THE LOGISTICS OF A SPLIT IN THE RATE? OH, NO, SIR, I DON'T.
I MEAN, WE CAN MAKE WORK WHATEVER.
SO. WHAT WERE YOU SAYING AGAIN, AMY? I BELIEVE ADVANTAGED PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, SO THEY PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE THE $75 OR $60.
YEAH, AND I, I JUST REMEMBER THERE BEING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE INCORRECTLY, BUT I THINK A GREAT DEAL OF THE SENIORS HAVE ADVANTAGE PLANS, A LOT OF THEM.
OKAY, COUNCIL, WHAT, A COUPLE OF OPTIONS HERE.
ANYONE WANT TO GET OUT THERE? OPTION TO APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED MOVEMENT ON THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU JUST MAKE A MOTION WITH.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBERS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE FINANCIALLY I'LL TELL YOU, MY FEELING IS HIT PAUSE AND LET'S GO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE HERE.
AND THEN LET'S ALSO SURVEY THE OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND US, SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, LIKE WHAT MR. PARKER WAS TALKING ABOUT. THAT'D BE MY SUGGESTION.
DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT TO TABLE IT? YES, SIR. I'LL MOTION TABLE.
COUNCILMEMBER COGAN. MOTION TO TABLE.
TABLE. OKAY. SECOND COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.
[01:55:04]
OKAY, COUNCIL. LET'S VOTE.OKAY, THAT IS UNANIMOUS TO TABLE.
THANK YOU, MEGAN. APPRECIATE THAT.
YES. NOT A PROBLEM. WE WILL TOUCH BACK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT'S A PRUDENT WAY TO PROCEED HERE.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
[15. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 82, “Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions” of the Code of Ordinances, City of Bedford, Texas, by adding a new Article VI “Street Racing”; providing this ordinance shall be cumulative of all ordinances; providing a severability clause; providing a penalty clause; providing a savings clause; and providing an effective date.]
NEW ARTICLE VI "STREET RACING"; PROVIDING THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATE.SO WE HAVE POLICE CHIEF JEFF WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING US TONIGHT.
SO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY OF WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF STREET RACERS COMING IN AND TAKING OVER PARKING LOTS.
NOT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT NOT IN OUR CITY.
SO WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS NEW ORDINANCE IS GOING TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR ANYBODY TO ARRANGE ONE OF THOSE EVENTS OR TO JUST BE AN ACTIVE BYSTANDER AT ANY OF THOSE EVENTS. SO IF THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE PARTICIPATING WE CAN COME IN AND KIND OF ADDRESS THE ISSUE FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.
THE ONE THAT WE HAD IN BEDFORD WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
SO PUT OUR OUR OFFICERS IN DANGER.
SO OUR GOAL IS, SOME OF THE BIGGER CITIES AROUND THIS ADOPTED A SIMILAR ORDINANCE AND IT'S DRIVEN THESE ISSUES OUT OF THEIR CITY AND THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM COMING HERE AND DOING DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT IN ADVANCE? WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT IN ADVANCE.
OKAY. SO YOU WERE JUST LEFT TO RESPOND TO.
I'M CURIOUS, ARE THERE OTHER LESSONS THAT YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF THAT EVENT? THAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM THAT.
YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT IT INTO YOUR PRACTICES? HOW WE GO ABOUT DEALING WITH THOSE EVENTS.
WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE STAFFING.
DALLAS AND FORT WORTH BOTH HAVE INTELLIGENCE CENTERS WHERE THEY'RE STARTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH US MORE NOW THAT, AFTER OUR INCIDENT, THEY ESSENTIALLY THEY HAD SOME SOME FEELINGS TOWARDS US, WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH.
SO THEY'RE GIVING US REGULAR COMMUNICATION.
THEY'RE GIVING US HEADS UP WHEN THESE EVENTS THAT ARE PLANNED ARE COMING TO OUR TOWN SO WE CAN STAFF UP, WE CAN COORDINATE INTELLIGENCE, WE CAN COORDINATE WITH THE OTHER CITIES TO HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS AVAILABLE.
SO IF THEY SHOW UP, WE CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
SO THIS ORDINANCE IS VERY SIMILAR TO ONE THAT EULESS JUST IMPLEMENTED.
AND IT SEEMS TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.
AND IT'S REALLY JUST A DISCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE ONCE THE WORD GETS OUT THAT, HEY, IF I'M JUST THERE WITH MY CAMERA OUT FILMING, I CAN BE TICKETED OR BE ARRESTED, IT STEERS THEM AWAY. THERE IS A CLAUSE IN HERE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE MEDIA TO BE PRESENT.
SO IF IT'S AN ONGOING THING, THEY CAN BE PRESENT AND DO THE DOCUMENTATION AND THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THE FINE OR ANY PENALTIES AND WE JUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO MOVE ON TO HURST [LAUGHTER]. YES.
OKAY. THANK YOU, CHIEF. OKAY. COUNCIL, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WAS THAT A QUESTION FINGER OR A MOTION FINGER? I PUSHED MY BUTTON. YEAH. OKAY. I.
WE'LL GIVE PROPS TO COUNCILMEMBER GAGLIARDI WHO ALREADY IS INTERESTED IN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THANK YOU. SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THAT'S GOING TO BE A SECOND HAND FROM COUNCILMEMBER COGAN.
SHOULD I VOTE FOR STEVES? THERE'S NO ABSTAINING.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. 7-0. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
[16. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to enter into an agreement for the purchase and implementation of a high-speed camera system with Flock Group, Inc. for the Bedford Police Department.]
GROUP INC FOR THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT.SO ONCE AGAIN, JEFF WILLIAMS AND.
YEAH. I DON'T SEE BLAKE. OH, HEY.
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO ADD SEVEN FIXED AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS STRATEGICALLY THROUGHOUT TOWN THAT HAVE HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS THAT WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE CRIME THAN OTHER AREAS TO HELP US COMBAT THOSE ISSUES.
SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS IS, IT CAPTURES A DIGITAL FINGERPRINT OF WHAT THAT VEHICLE IS.
[02:00:01]
IT'S NOT CAPTURING PERSONAL INFORMATION, IT'S NOT FACIAL RECOGNITION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.SO IT ALLOWS US TO, IF THERE'S ALERTS ON VEHICLES FOR ONE, AND IF IT'S A STOLEN VEHICLE, IF IT'S WANTED IN A CRIME, IT ALERTS THE POLICE OFFICERS IN REAL TIME THAT, HEY, THAT CAR JUST PASSED ONE OF THESE CAMERAS.
IT ALSO, WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BEDFORD USING OTHER CITY'S CAMERAS.
REAL RECENTLY WE HAD A SILVER ALERT, A LADY THAT CAME UP MISSING FROM THE HOSPITAL.
SHE DROPPED HER HUSBAND OFF THE HOSPITAL.
SHE HAD SOME MEMORY ISSUES, CAME UP MISSING FOR THE NEXT 8 HOURS.
SHE WENT TO THE CITY OF ARLINGTON AND GRAND PRAIRIE AND WAS PINGING OFF THEIR CAMERAS UNTIL SHE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS THAT A GRAND PRAIRIE OFFICER WAS THERE AND GOT HER QUICKLY.
SO THIS LAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD AT LEAST TWO SILVER ALERT RECOVERIES WHERE OUR SENIOR CITIZENS HAD GOT OUT, GOT LOST BECAUSE OF MEMORY ISSUES, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE THEM REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAD THIS PAST SUMMER, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF INCREASE OF VIOLENT CRIME IN BEDFORD.
WE HAD A SERIES OF FOUR ARMED ROBBERIES WHERE ONE SUBJECT WAS HITTING BEDFORD, HURST AND EULESS.
BECAUSE HE HAD SOME PRIOR? NO JUST BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY HAD THAT THAT LICENSE PLATE, BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT KIND OF CAR, WE KNEW WHAT COLO, THE MAKE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LICENSE PLATE, SO WE COULDN'T TRACK THEM BACK TO THEM. SO IT TOOK US MONTHS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN HURST AND EULESS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.
SO, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY POPULAR THROUGHOUT TOWN.
SO THE, ON THE BACK SIDE OF IT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO ON OUR, IF APPROVED, OUR GOAL IS TO PUT THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.
IT WILL SHOW THE NUMBER OF SEARCHES THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS DO.
SO WE CAN'T JUST GO IN THERE AND SEARCH JUST A SEARCH.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO SEARCH THAT AND HAVE A CRIME ASSOCIATED TO IT.
SO OUR CITIZENS WILL BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IS THE NUMBER OF SEARCHES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID.
THIS IS THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT PASSED.
THIS IS THE POLICY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS IN PLACE TO DO THESE SEARCHES.
SO IT'S NOT A BIG BROTHER WATCHING.
AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE PRIVACY CONCERNS? FROM SOME OF THE SURROUNDING CITIES.
SO THESE CAMERAS, EACH CAMERA WILL READ ABOUT 900 PLATES PER MINUTE I BELIEVE.
SO IT WILL PROCESS LOTS OF PLATES THROUGH THERE.
I DON'T HAVE THE STAFF OR THE PEOPLE TO TO SIT THERE AND DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATCH THAT.
AND IF WE HAVE A CRIME, GO BACK AND LOOK FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT THAT VEHICLE POSSIBLY CAME.
SO IT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR RED LIGHT CAMERAS? NO, IT IS NOT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE NO CAMERA SYSTEM IN BEDFORD.
IT'S JUST A SENSOR TELLING IF SOMEBODY IS IN THAT LANE OR NOT.
IS THE DATA PROTECTED? YES, IT IS A CLOUD STORAGE.
IT'S A GOVERNMENT CLOUD STORAGE.
I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE LEVI OR SOMEBODY COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE HOW SECURE THAT IS.
BUT IT'S THE SAME STORAGE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USES TO SECURE THEIR THEIR DATA.
NO, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY, AFTER 30 DAYS IT IS WIPED CLEAN.
YEAH. SO WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO, IF WE NEED IT, WE'VE GOT TO GET TO IT QUICKLY.
THANKS. ANYONE ELSE? WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS.
MOTION TO APPROVE. MAYOR PRO TEM SABOL SECOND.
THANK YOU, STAFF THANK YOU, CHIEF.
[17. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to purchase three police motorcycles for the Bedford Police Department, and all necessary equipment upgrades, from Longhorn Harley-Davidson through the Buyboard Purchasing Cooperative in an amount not to exceed $95,264.93.]
ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT UPGRADES FROM LONGHORN HARLEY-DAVIDSON THROUGH THE BUYBOARD PURCHASING COOPERATIVE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $95,264.93. SIR.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO LET CHIEF WILLIAMS TALK ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ITEM.
YOU GOT ALL DRESSED UP FOR THAT? I HAVE ONE MORE. OH, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. BLAKE OR CHIEF, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME.
I'M SORRY. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THAT OUT.
WE'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON WHY WE DIDN'T USE HARLEY-DAVIDSON HERE.
[02:05:01]
CAN Y'ALL TALK ABOUT THAT, PLEASE? YES. AT SOME POINT. THANK YOU.SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A PURCHASING COOPERATIVE THROUGH BUBOARD WITH LONGHORN HARLEY-DAVIDSON.
THE DEALERSHIP IN BEDFORD DOES NOT SELL.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S NOT A CONTRACT THAT WE CAN PURCHASE OFF OF.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTORCYCLE, ESSENTIALLY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE, WHERE THE WHOLE PACKAGE IS DONE, WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED, THE SIRENS AND EVERYTHING IS DONE BY ONE DEALERSHIP.
AND THAT'S LONGHORN HARLEY-DAVIDSON THAT OFFERS THAT.
WE'RE PURCHASING THREE MOTORCYCLES.
SO WITH THIS ONE, WE'RE GOING TO RETAIN ONE OF OUR OLDER MOTORCYCLES AND [INAUDIBLE].
SO I DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT MOTORCYCLES.
CHIEF LAPENNA COULD PROBABLY COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE SINCE HE USED TO RIDE ONE.
BUT THIS WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED FOR LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE HAD STAFFING SHORTAGES AND IT DIDN'T SEEM FEASIBLE AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO PUSH IT THROUGH LAST YEAR WHEN WE KNEW WE WERE NOT GOING TO RIDE THEM AND THOSE MOTORCYCLES KEEP SITTING THERE ROTTING AWAY ON ON OUR ON OUR LOT.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE, BUT.
OKAY. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER GAGLIARDI.
SO MY QUESTION, SO WHAT OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES HAVE MOTORCYCLE UNITS? THE MAJORITY OF THEM DO.
SO EULESS AND HURST DO NOT HAVE MOTORCYCLE UNITS, BUT NORTH RICHLAND HILLS DOES.
KELLER, SOUTHLAKE, GRAPEVINE, COLLEYVILLE, IRVING, DALLAS, FORT WORTH.
THE MAJORITY OF DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, SAY, 40 OFFICERS PLUS HAVE MOTORCYCLE UNITS IN THEM.
AND THERE'S A DEFINITE BENEFIT.
ABSOLUTELY. THE THE MOTORCYCLES ARE MUCH MORE MANEUVERABLE.
WHETHER THAT RESULTS IN A CITATION OR A WARNING, HAVING THOSE OFFICERS STOP PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING WRONG AND SPEEDING, THAT'S HOW YOU SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS AND THE ABILITY FOR THE MOTORCYCLES TO GET OUT, STOP THAT VEHICLE, TURN BACK AROUND AND GET BACK IN PLACE SO THEY CAN STOP ANOTHER ONE IN A SCHOOL ZONE.
A CAR CAN'T DO IT THE WAY A MOTORCYCLE CAN.
THE GUYS ON THE MOTORCYCLES CAN ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE THE WORK OF SOMEBODY IN A CAR.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? VOICE YOUR PLEASURE.
MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.
DO WE HAVE A. SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER STEVES.
WANT TO WAIT FOR COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS TO RETURN.
IF THE COMPUTER IS A LITTLE SLOW, IT'S A LITTLE SLOW.
HOW'S THE ELECTION GOING, MICHAEL? WELL, EARLY VOTING RESULTS ARE IN FOR TARRANT COUNTY.
HOW IS MARCO RUBIO DOING? HE LOST. DID HE REALLY? NO WAY. DID HE REALLY? WHAT? OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. THEY MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES.
I VOTED. YOU ALREADY VOTED. WHAT? [LAUGHTER] OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, WILLIAMS, BOYS.
[18. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to award an annual contract for City-wide mowing and trimming services to Yellowstone Landscape – Central Inc., dba Yellowstone Landscape in an estimated amount of $214,106.94.]
CENTRAL INC DBA YELLOWSTONE LANDSCAPE IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $214,106.94.ALL RIGHT. MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU.
YES. THIS IS CONSIDERING A CONTRACT WITH YELLOWSTONE FOR THE CITYWIDE MOWING AND TRIMMING SERVICES.
IT WENT THROUGH OUR PUBLIC PURCHASE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM.
[02:10:01]
EACH BID WAS EVALUATED AND REVIEWED BASED ON PRICE AND BASED ON OTHER FACTORS, INCLUDING REPUTATION, REFERENCES, THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM THE WORK AS THEY PRESENTED THEIR PROPOSALS.OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE ALSO THE LOW PRICED VENDOR FOR THIS SPECIFIC CONTRACT.
SO HOW MUCH DID WE BUDGET ON THIS? HOW DID THAT COME IN? I KNOW IT'S UNDER BUDGET.
I'LL HAVE TO GET THE EXACT AMOUNT.
YES, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT AMOUNT IN FRONT OF ME, THOUGH.
OKAY. AND IT'S YELLOWSTONE LANDSCAPE.
WILL KEVIN COSTNER BE COMING HERE TO CUT OUR GRASS? [LAUGHTER] I MEAN, THEY FILM RIGHT IN FORT WORTH, DON'T THEY? OR IS THAT THE OTHER ONE? 1883.
NO, THAT'S THE OTHER ONE. OKAY.
AND WE LOST ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.
WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER COGAN. I HAD A QUICK QUESTION, IF I WILL.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. SO I'M ASSUMING WE HAVEN'T USED THE YELLOWSTONE LANDSCAPE BEFORE IN THE CITY, IS THAT CORRECT? THE CITY OF BEDFORD? THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF. I'M ASSUMING NOT.
OH, SORRY, JIMMY. WERE YOU ABOUT TO.
I WAS JUST SAYING, I BELIEVE YOU'RE CORRECT.
AND SO IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD SOME MOWING.
DO WE HAVE THEM ON THE SCHEDULE? AND IF SO, IS THERE PENALTIES THAT WE CAN ENFORCE FOR THEM MISSING SCHEDULED MOWING? YES, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN STRUCTURED, WE DO HAVE.
YOU ALMOST SAID THAT LIKE YOU'RE SURPRISED.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOOK AT AND THAT WE PUT IN THE BID ITSELF IS EVERY VENDOR THAT'S AWARDED HAS ABOUT A 90 DAY PROBATIONARY PERIOD, WHICH EFFECTIVELY MEANS THAT THEY CAN PERFORM WITHIN 90 DAYS.
AFTER 90 DAYS, WE CAN KEEP THEM OR WE CAN REPLACE THEM WITH THE NEXT LOWEST PRICE VENDOR.
THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND COMPLIANCE.
SO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THE BID SPECIFIES THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONTRACT, WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.
BUT IT REQUIRES A LOT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE VENDOR, OBVIOUSLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES OF THE BID ITSELF AND WHAT THEY PROPOSE. THE OTHER PART OF IT IS MYSELF IS I'M ALSO INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.
SO FROM A COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VENDORS IS CONFORMING TO THE BID.
AND SO, YES, PART OF THE PENALTY IS, YOU KNOW, DELAY OF PAYMENT.
IF THEY DON'T PERFORM THE WORK, THEY CAN BE PENALIZED BY HAVING PORTIONS OF IT REMOVED.
IF THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED.
THERE ARE CERTAIN CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE.
THEY ARE THE AWARDED VENDOR, SO WE HAVE TO GO WITH THEM.
AND SO IT DOES ALLOW US THE FLEXIBILITY TO SEEK ALTERNATIVES IF WE NEED TO.
AND SO THAT IS THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT THAT THE VENDORS SIGN.
THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD FOR THEM.
OKAY, PERFECT. THAT WAS PERFECT.
AS LONG AS THE CITY IS BEING PROTECTED, THAT'S THE MAIN CONCERN.
OKAY. WE'LL GIVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TO MR. COGAN. SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, BLAKE.
[19. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to enter into a contract with O & J Coatings, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $2,028,625 for the Cummings Drive Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation project.]
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,028,625 FOR THE CUMMINGS DRIVE ELEVATED STORAGE TANK REHABILITATION PROJECT.PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CHERYL TAYLOR.
THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE CUMMINGS WATER TANK THAT'S LOCATED AT 3500 CUMMINGS DRIVE.
[02:15:02]
DESIGN BEGAN IN MAY OF THIS YEAR WITH A PLAN TO BEGIN WORK BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.THIS TYPE OF WORK IS GENERALLY COMPLETED WHEN TEMPERATURES COOL DOWN FROM THE SUMMER MONTHS AND WATER USAGE IS LOWER SO THAT IT CAN BE, SO THAT THE WORK CAN BE DONE AND THE TANKS ARE BACK UP WHEN SUMMER MONTHS COME BACK UP AGAIN AND USAGE INCREASES.
ACCESS TO THE TANK IS FROM A LONG DRIVEWAY BEHIND THE ROW OF HOUSES FRONTING ON CUMMINGS DRIVE.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT INCLUDES THE ADDITION, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF COMPONENTS AND THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PAINT, REMOVAL AND REPAINTING OF THE TANK. CUMMINGS ELEVATED STORAGE TANK PROJECT WAS ADVERTISED IN THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM ON OCTOBER 9TH AND OCTOBER 16TH.
THERE WAS A NON-MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING ON OCTOBER 18TH AND THEN A SITE VISIT WITH ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS THAT WANTED TO COME BACK AND SEE THE SITE PRIOR TO THE BID. BIDS WERE OPENED ON OCTOBER 25TH AND WE RECEIVED SEVEN BIDS RANGING IN PRICE FROM 2 MILLION TO $4 MILLION.
THE LOW BIDDER WAS O & J COATINGS, INC.
THE TOTAL CONTRACT COST WILL BE PAID FROM FUND 505 UTILITY MAINTENANCE FUND.
GARVER DID PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION LETTER TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO O & J COATINGS.
SO I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER TO DISCUSS THE TOWER DESIGN.
THANK YOU, CHERYL. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I THINK I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD IT FOR A LONG TIME.
IT JUST TAKES A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT A MATTER OF JUST HIRING A PAINTER.
SO REALLY, WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO PICK WHICH DESIGN.
THE NUMBER TWO IN THE TOP RIGHT WAS THE TOP VOTE GETTER AT 63.7%.
THE NEXT ONE WAS NUMBER THREE AT ALMOST 36%.
AND THEN THE TOP LEFT, NUMBER ONE WAS 27%.
NUMBER FIVE HAD 10.4%, AND NUMBER SIX HAD 7.1%.
SO OBVIOUSLY, YEAH, I MEAN, BUT YOU ALL ARE THE ONES ALWAYS THAT ONE PERSON.
YEAH, EXACTLY. AND ONE PERSON WANTED A SUICIDE WITH ALL OF THEM.
THAT WAS IT. SO ARE WE HAVING TO SACRIFICE ANY OTHER PROJECTS IN ORDER TO FUND THIS ITEM? NO. OKAY.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A SELECTION HERE, ROB.
WE CAN'T JUST GO STRAIGHT TO ADJOURN.
NO. SO. COUNCILMEMBER NOT FOR LONG. [LAUGHTER] SO DOES THIS BRING.
SO THIS BRINGS WATER TOWER UP TO CODE.
AND THE HOLE, THEY WIDEN THE HOLE SO PEOPLE CAN GET INTO IT.
AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE? YES, IT WAS. IT WAS ACCESS TO THE WATER TOWER WAS AN ISSUE.
TO MAKE IT TO CURRENT STANDARDS, THEY HAD TO MAKE CERTAIN THINGS LARGER.
SO THIS MAKES THIS MAKES EVERYTHING UP TO CODE AND PUTS A FRESH COAT OF PAINT ON IT.
YEAH. SO WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR $2 MILLION? SO FOR $2 MILLION YOU GET THE ADDITION OF A FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM, A NEW 30 INCH ACCESS HATCH, A NEW WATER ACCESS LADDER, BECAUSE IT'S, THE EXISTING ONE IS CORRODING.
THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A 30 INCH MOTOR ACTUATED VALVE INSIDE THE NEW VAULT TO FACILITATE FUTURE WORK AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TANK, A SUBMERSIBLE MIXER TO AID IN WATER QUALITY, AN ONLINE CHLORINE ANALYZER TO MONITOR DISINFECTANT RESIDUALS, AS WELL AS UPGRADES TO THE DATA SYSTEM AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THEY WILL ALSO REMOVE THE COATING FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK, AND THEN REPAINT.
[02:20:04]
SO WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW.WE DON'T HAVE LIKE A MIXER OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A MIXER.
OKAY. SO WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF, THIS IS A HUGE UPGRADE.
WILL THERE BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO WATER QUALITY? EXCUSE ME. WILL THERE BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE WATER QUALITY? THAT IS THE POINT OF THE MIXER.
YES. WILL THERE BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE WATER PRESSURE? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE WE FOUND MONEY TO DO THIS.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO BRING IT UP TO CODE.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT WITH THE VOTING ON THE DESIGN, A LOT OF THE VERBATIMS, THE RESIDENTS WANT SOMETHING THAT WAS SIMPLER WHEN IT CAME TO DESIGN WHERE IT WOULDN'T FADE A LOT.
AND THERE WAS ALSO QUESTIONS OF, IN THE AMOUNT OF PAINT BEING USED, HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST.
AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING THAT OUT IF WE'RE CONSIDERING A DESIGN AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCIL? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH WITH THE DESIGN THAT WHEN THE FLASH VOTE, WHICH WOULD BE NUMBER TWO.
NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE A MOTION WITH NUMBER TWO.
FOR THIS ONE. FOR NUMBER TWO, IF WE GO WITH IT, I'M PERFECTLY OKAY WITH IT.
BUT WHAT I WHAT I SEE, THOUGH, HERE IS WE DON'T HAVE OUR TAGLINE.
OH, OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
OF COURSE. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER GAGLIARDI DID SAY THAT WE MAY CHANGE IT DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT ROB WANTS MOTION TO ADJOURN ON IT.
MAKES A MOTION TO ADJOURN, DASH, DR.
ROB. BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE FRONT AND CENTER FOR OUR CITY.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PASS IT ALL THE TIME.
LIKE YOU'VE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, MAYOR, OUR LOCATION, WE CAN'T SCREW IT UP.
DISCOVER THE CENTER. HOW MUCH FOR THREE MORE WORDS ON THE TOWER.
IS THAT AN ISSUE? IT WOULDN'T BE MORE.
IT'S INCLUDED IN THE $2 MILLION PRICE TAG.
IT IS INCLUDED IN THE $2 MILLION.
WE CAN PUT AS MANY WORDS UP THERE AS WE WANT FOR $2 MILLION.
YOU CAN PAINT THE ENTIRE EXTERNAL BOWL WITH $2 MILLION.
OKAY. I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM [LAUGHTER].
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COME ON, SOMEBODY.
WITH THE ADDITION THAT WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL WORDS ON IT.
SO WE HAVE A FIRST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GAGLIARDI.
WE HAVE DISCOVERED THE CENTER.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER COGAN.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S VOTE ON DESIGN NUMBER TWO.
THAT WAS WAY LESS PAINFUL THAN I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE.
ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
[20. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with Hawes Hill & Associates in an amount not to exceed $140,000 for a comprehensive plan.]
HAWES HILL AND ASSOCIATES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $140,000 FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY.
I DO HAVE A BRIEF POWERPOINT THAT I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH, JUST SO I DON'T FORGET ANYTHING.
EXCUSE ME. SO, ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING, OBVIOUSLY IN OUR PLANS FOR SOME TIME.
WE HAVE ALL KNOWN THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR MASTER PLAN.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE IN 2001, UPDATED IN 2010 AND WE ARE NOW IN 2022.
SO WE ARE REALLY LIVING UNDER GUIDANCE THAT IS VERY OUTDATED AND NOT APPLICABLE.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE MASTER PLAN IS TO, IT'S A GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
[02:25:01]
SO WHEN YOU'RE MAKING LAND USE DECISIONS, PLANNING DECISIONS, THAT IS OUR BIBLE REALLY THAT WE ARE TO USE, TO LOOK TO THAT, TO HELP US, GUIDE US ON THOSE DECISIONS.AND THIS WAS A PART OF THE COUNCIL 'S STRATEGIC PLAN LAST YEAR, CORRECT? CORRECT. SO WE HAVE LOOKED AROUND, WE HAVE TALKED TO SOME GROUPS.
WES AND I IN MY OFFICE HAVE WORKED IN THIS WORLD A LITTLE BIT BEFORE.
BUT ESSENTIALLY IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'VE REALLY OUTLINED A PRETTY DETAILED, IT WILL BE FLUID, BUT THEY'VE OUTLINED A PRETTY FLUID, PRETTY DEFINED FIVE STEP KIND OF PROCESS TO TAKING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO AN END RESULT OF A NEW UPDATED MASTER PLAN.
SO AGAIN, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
THEY WILL DO A FULL COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT.
SO AGAIN, THAT, OF COURSE, WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE A SWOT STRENGTH, WEAKNESS, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS.
AGAIN, THEY'LL MOVE INTO AN IDENTITY WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF THOSE.
IT ALLOWS US TO DO SOME VISIONING.
THEY ARE, ONE OF THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE IS REALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE NOT IN THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND LOOK AT IT FROM A MARKET STANDPOINT AS TO WHAT IS A REALITY THERE, AND THEN ALSO APPLY THE VISION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO KIND OF AN AGREEMENT ON THOSE THINGS.
IT'S NOT JUST A STRAIGHT PLANNING FUTURE LAND USE KIND OF DESIGN THAT A PRODUCT THAT WE'LL RECEIVE.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE WILL MOVE INTO AN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM.
VERY, VERY, VERY OVERSIMPLIFIED FOR YOU.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, BOTH WES AND I HAVE WORKED WITH HAWES HILL IN PRIOR LOCATIONS.
AND WE'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS WITH THE GROUP.
SO WE'RE ONE STEP AHEAD THERE ALREADY.
SO. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT YOU WILL BE SEEING HERE.
IN ORDER TO GET THIS KICK STARTED, THEY ARE BASED OUT OF AUSTIN.
SO THEY ARE NOT, THEY'RE NOT HERE AT THE AT THE MOMENT.
SO THEY'RE OUT OF HOUSTON, AUSTIN.
THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF PRESENCE HERE.
ONE OF THEIR PARTNERS IS LIVING HERE MOST OF THE TIME NOW.
SO THEY DO THE TRAVELING, BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THE AREA TONIGHT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALSO GREAT ABOUT THEM.
WHILE THEY MAY NOT BE FULLY BASED IN DFW, THEY DO A LOT OF WORK HERE.
SO YOU'LL BE SEEING TONY AND NAINA IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE.
SO THIS IS JUST A SAMPLING OF WHAT THEY DO.
THE GROUP THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK WITH IS CLARK CONDON.
THEY ARE BASED OUT OF HOUSTON AS WELL.
ELIZABETH WILL BE OUR CONTACT ON THAT.
SO I THINK WE'LL BE EXCITED WITH THE END PRODUCT THAT WE'LL END UP WITH THERE.
[02:30:02]
SO AGAIN, TONIGHT WE ARE BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $140,000 FOR THE FULL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A 10 TO 12 MONTH PROCESS IN ORDER TO GET THIS THROUGH.
AUTOMATICALLY BUILT IN, WE'LL HAVE TWO CITY COUNCIL PLANNING AND ZONING RETREATS, WORK SESSIONS, IF YOU WILL, AND THEN ALSO TWO WORKSHOPS THAT WILL BE KIND OF A WE'RE GOING TO PICK A KIND OF A FOCUS GROUP TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND GET FEEDBACK ON WHERE WE ARE AND GET THE VISION GOING THERE.
SO ANOTHER THING THAT WILL BE PART OF THAT CONTRACT IS SOME WEBSITE ENGAGEMENT.
MOLLY HAS ALREADY BEEN DOING SOME HOMEWORK WORKING WITH OUR GROUP AND WE'LL HAVE SOME REALLY KIND OF FUN, UNIQUE SURVEYS THAT WILL BE OUT THERE, KIND OF PICK THIS IMAGE KIND OF A THING. SO THAT'LL BE PART OF THIS AS WELL.
SO WITH ALL OF THAT, I AM HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY, SO TELL ME AGAIN, HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD WE BE DOING THIS? OH, GOODNESS. YOU.
REALLY? FIVE. PROBABLY A [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.
IT'S KIND OF A LIFETIME IN YOUR WORLD.
WELL, AND AGAIN, FOR A COMMUNITY THAT IS ON THE DEVELOPED SIDE.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? SO, I DO WANT TO SAY BEFORE WE GO, THANK YOU.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE ON THIS.
OKAY, COUNCIL, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A SECOND, COUNCILMEMBER GAGLIARDI.
LET'S VOTE. OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, ANDREA.
[21. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a proposed change order with Steele & Freeman, Inc. to increase the guaranteed maximum price contract in the amount of $180,605.79 for the replacement of Doug Rivers Drive in Generations Park. (Amended Item)]
TO INCREASE THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $180,605.79 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DOUG RIVERS DRIVE IN GENERATIONS PARK.AND SORRY TO KEEP YOU, BUT PROJECT MANAGER GARY JOHNSON.
SO AS WE GET TO THE END OF THE PROJECT, ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING IS TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO MILL TWO INCHES OF ASPHALT OFF OF DOUG RIVERS, THE PART THAT IS ASPHALT AND THEN OVERLAY IT WITH FRESH ASPHALT SO THAT OUR NEW PARK HAS A NEW LOOKING ROAD IN IT. SO THEY MILLED IT TWO INCHES.
AND ONCE THEY DID, OUR CITY INSPECTORS TOOK A LOOK AT IT.
THE STEELE AND FREEMAN PEOPLE TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND REALIZED THIS BASE IS NOT ANY GOOD.
WE GOT TOO MANY CRACKS. WE'VE GOT TOO MANY PROBLEMS. IF WE OVERLAY THIS WITH TWO INCHES OF ASPHALT IN LESS THAN A YEAR, WE'LL BE BACK HERE DEALING WITH THIS AGAIN.
BUT ONCE WE MILLED IT OFF, IT BECAME A PROBLEM.
IT WAS JUST TO PUT A FRESH LAYER OF ASPHALT ON IT.
AND BY BEING ABLE TO AMEND STEELE FREEMAN'S CONTRACT TO INCLUDE THIS, IT COULD HAPPEN QUICKLY.
THIS IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
YOU GUYS APPROVED A BUDGET AMENDMENT A LITTLE EARLIER THAT WILL COVER THIS COST.
AND OUR CFO WORKED ALL THAT OUT FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO THIS COMES OUT OF THE PHASE NEXT FUNDS, BOND FUNDS.
WHERE DOES THIS COME OUT OF? 4B. 4B STREET FUND.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER COGAN MOVES TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER STEVES.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, GARY.
[22. Discussion and action regarding the appointment of a Council liaison to the Beautification Advisory Board.]
[02:35:05]
SO WE HAD A RECENT VACANCY, CORRECT.SO THIS IS A SO AS I SAID, WE NEED TO [LAUGHTER] APPOINT A COUNCIL LIAISON TO BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION BECAUSE THERE'S A VACANCY.
AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THAT POSITION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. TO APPROVE WHO? NICHELLE. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO.
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER STEVES MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE NICHELLE DAWKINS.
SECOND FOR COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.
NO, I'M KIDDING. NO, NOT AT ALL.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S VOTE. OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THAT'S A GREAT GROUP.
YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT. ITEM 23.
MAYOR/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS. ANYONE HAVE A REPORT?
[23. Mayor/Council Member Reports]
COUNCILMEMBER FARCO.SO NEXT TIME YOU SEE THEM, THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DO TO HELP WITH THE CITY.
AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT, SIR.
24. CITY MANAGER/STAFF REPORTS.
[24. City Manager/Staff Reports]
I'VE GOT SOMETHING. OH, COUNCILMEMBER STEVES.LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD MET.
THEY WERE JOINED BY GIRL SCOUT TROOP 1517 WITH SCOUT LEADER HEATHER HOLIDAY AND BOY SCOUT PACK 254 WITH DEN LEADER EMILY. THE SCOUTS ARE WORKING ON AND WITH DON HENDERSON AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO BUILD AND DECORATE A VERY LARGE GINGERBREAD HOUSE THAT WILL BE ON DISPLAY DECEMBER 3RD AT THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT THE OLD BEDFORD SCHOOL.
SO IF YOU CAN GET OUT THERE, IT'S DECEMBER 3RD BETWEEN 5 AND 8.
YES, HI. I JUST HAVE ONE ITEM.
MARK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR, MARK LONG.
IT'S LIKE THE FIRST ONE WE'VE HAD IN A DECADE.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A BIG HEAD, BUT HE STILL IS ON PROBATION.
[LAUGHTER] BUT MARK, MARK IS GREAT.
HE IS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE COUNCIL GOALS AND THE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S ACTIVATING THE SPORTS FIELDS AT GENERATIONS PARK AND JUST LOOKING AT ATHLETIC FIELD NEEDS IN THE CITY. YOU LOOK AT RE-ENERGIZING SIGNATURE EVENT WHICH IS A HUGE GOAL.
MARK HAS DONE IT ALL AND HE'S WORKED FOR A VARIETY OF CITIES, BIG CITIES, SMALLER CITIES.
AND WE'RE JUST, I THINK WE'RE VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HIM.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN A DECADE AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT HIM TAKING US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY ONE THING.
WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY? BUT I'M GOING TO LET YOU SAY IT.
OKAY, DON'T SCREW IT UP. [LAUGHTER] DON'T SCREW IT UP.
[LAUGHTER] I DID HAVE IT IN MY NOTES TO SAY THAT, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO STEAL ANYBODY'S THUNDER, SO.
BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I GOT TO MEET COUNCILMAN STEVES ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE PARKS BOARD MEETING.
I'LL REPEAT SOME OF WHAT I SAID.
BUT REALLY WHAT DREW ME TO BEDFORD WAS COMMUNITY, FAMILY.
AND TONIGHT, MAYOR, YOUR PASSION.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL 'S PASSION FOR SO MANY GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY.
AND I'M EXCITED TO GET MY BOOTS ON THE GROUND, IF YOU WILL.
RECOGNIZE EVERYTHING'S BEING TAPED.
I KNOW, I KNOW. [LAUGHTER] AND I ACTUALLY ASKED THAT AT PARKS BOARD.
ARE WE TAPED AND VIDEOED HERE? SO WE'RE NOT.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE FREEDOM, BUT STILL WITHIN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
SO, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT THAT IT IS VERY EXCITING TO BE HERE.
I LOVE THE COMMITMENT OF THIS COUNCIL.
I LOVE THE COMMITMENT OF THE CITY LEADERSHIP WITH JIMMY.
STATHATOS. BUT THE COMMITMENT OF STAFF, I'VE GOT TO MEET SO MANY WONDERFUL STAFF MEMBERS IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND AT THE SENIOR CENTER, IN SO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
BUT EVEN MORE SO, IT'S THE COMMITMENT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WE SEE TONIGHT.
AND I LOVE WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS.
AGAIN, EXCITED TO BE HERE TO MEET WITH YOU, TO WORK WITH YOU AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT LATER, BECAUSE JIMMY PROMISED ME THIS WAS AN HOUR LONG MEETING. YEAH. AND IT'S.
[02:40:01]
YEP, THREE HOURS. AND YOU'RE THE LAST ONE UP.AND I WILL NOT SCREW IT UP. YEAH.
THANK YOU, SIR. WE DID HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE DO NOT HAVE ACTION TO TAKE OUT HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS, WAS THAT A MOTION TO ADJOURN? [LAUGHTER] NO, I THINK COUNCIL GAGLIARDI. OH, I'M SORRY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND I HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LONG SPEECH I'M GOING TO GIVE.
NO, BUT FIRST OF ALL, MY APOLOGIES FOR BEING LATE TODAY.
AND MY THANKS TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM.
WE GOT A THIRD. SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER DAWKINS, THIRD FROM THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. IT'S 9:02.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.